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Twins aim to rebound from failed attempt at first place

Sep 22, 2006 - 12:47 PM Minnesota (90-62) at Baltimore (67-86) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to become the front-runner in the American League Central Division on Thursday. They look to bounce back in Friday's opener of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Baltimore posted a 4-3 victory against AL Central-leading Detroit on Thursday afternoon, allowing Minnesota to momentarily claim a share of first place. Despite having ace Johan Santana on the mound that evening, the Twins failed to move into sole possession of the division lead with a 6-0 loss at Boston.

It was just the third loss in 13 games for Minnesota, with two of those setbacks coming in games started by Santana. The Twins had won the first 12 contests in which Santana pitched after the All-Star break.

Minnesota next turns to Carlos Silva (10-13, 5.88 ERA), who has gone 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his last three starts. Silva has given up just 11 hits in his last 20 innings after surrendering 30 hits in his previous 15 1/3 frames.

Prior to stringing together three consecutive brilliant starts this month, Silva endured a five-outing stretch in which he was 0-4 with a 7.42 ERA. Amid that skid, the righthander allowed six runs and 10 hits - including five homers - in a 6-3 loss here on August 22.

Silva has been saddled with an 8.74 ERA in losing both starts this year against the Orioles, who counter with Daniel Cabrera (7-10, 5.10). In a 9-7 win at Minnesota on June 10, Cabrera worked six scoreless innings to improve to 4-1 with a 3.11 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Twins.

Cabrera also put together a 16-inning scoreless streak last month but since has gone 0-2 with a 7.78 ERA in four starts. The 25-year-old righthander has issued 13 walks during the skid, bring his season total to an AL-most 99.