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Blue Jays seek fourth straight win, sweep of Twins

May 15, 2008 - 1:10 PM Toronto (20-22) at Minnesota (20-19) 1:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Toronto Blue Jays attempt to win their fourth straight contest and climb out of the American League East cellar when they go for a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

Matt Stairs hit his 11th career grand slam in the first inning Wednesday and the Blue Jays held on for a 6-5 victory over the Twins.

Stairs, who homered in the series opener as well, has a team-leading .304 batting average with six home runs and 14 RBI this season.

Toronto, which remains last in the division, climbed to within four games of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (23-17). The club will also have the chance to pass the New York Yankees (20-21) on Thursday and send the major league's highest payroll into last place.

Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan (2-3, 4.47), who is 0-3 with a 6.33 ERA on the road this season, will try to bounce back from his worst start of the campaign.

The righthander was tagged for nine runs over 3 2/3 innings during Saturday's 12-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

Minnesota will counter with lefthander Glen Perkins (0-1, 4.50), who will make his second career start.

The 25-year-old Perkins tossed six innings, allowing three runs and nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts in his first career start - a 5-2 setback to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

The Twins have not been swept at home this season.