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Maddux goes for win No. 351 vs. Twins

Jun 25, 2008 - 2:01 PM Minnesota (41-36) at San Diego (32-46) 10:05 p.m. EDT

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Greg Maddux has been one of the best pitchers in the National League over the past month. He will try to secure a win for his efforts Wednesday when the San Diego Padres host the Minnesota Twins.

It took Maddux (3-5, 3.17 ERA) five attempts to notch career victory No. 350 on May 10 against the Colorado Rockies. In eight starts since, the future Hall of Famer has not been able to find his way back to the win column despite a 2.70 ERA during that span.

Four times he has left with the lead only to have the bullpen falter, and the Padres are averaging a paltry 3.56 runs per game when Maddux starts.

A four-time Cy Young Award winner, Maddux is the only pitcher in major league history to post at least 13 wins in 20 consecutive seasons. With only 16 or 17 starts left this season, that streak may be coming to an end.

The Twins are red-hot, having won seven straight, and have been especially dominant against the National League, compiling a 10-3 record against the senior circuit. They won the opener on Tuesday when they got to All-Star closer Trevor Hoffman in the ninth.

After Hoffman struck out the first two batters, Brendan Harris and Brian Buscher hit back-to-back homers to lift Minnesota to a 3-1 win.

While Maddux will be making his 724th career start, the Twins will counter with lefthander Glen Perkins (3-2, 4.39), who will be starting for the 10th time in his major league career. The 25-year-old Perkins is coming off a win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday in which he allowed three runs and 10 hits in eight frames.

Perkins has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his nine starts this season.