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Mussina, streaking Yankees aim for sweep of Twins

Jul 23, 2008 - 10:09 AM Minnesota (55-45) at NY Yankees (55-45) 1:05 p.m. EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Mike Mussina will be in search of his 13th win and the New York Yankees will be seeking their sixth consecutive victory and a sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

The Twins entered the series as the hottest team in baseball, winners of 21 of their previous 28 games, but the Yankees have had little trouble cooling them off, using Nos. 4 and 5 starters Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner to hold Minnesota to six combined runs over two games.

The Yankee offense has broken out as well, combining for 20 runs over the same span after averaging 3.3 runs per game over their previous 13 contests.

Bobby Abreu homered and drove in three runs and Robinson Cano continued his torrid pace with two hits in Tuesday's 8-2 victory. Cano has at least two hits in each of the last five games and is batting .358 (24-for-67) in July after hitting .242 through June.

Mussina (12-6, 3.49 ERA) will hope to be the beneficiary of another offensive explosion. The veteran righthander has been fantastic of late, going 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts, striking out 24 batters while walking three in 24 frames.

Mussina has dominated Minnesota in his career, compiling a 21-6 record with a 3.18 ERA in 31 starts, including a win at the Metrodome on May 30.

The Twins will look to salvage the series behind Glen Perkins (7-2, 3.84). The 25-year-old lefthander has not suffered a loss since May 30 and has allowed three runs or less in each of his last eight starts, including six scoreless innings in a win over the Texas Rangers last Thursday.