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Twins hope to bounce back against Orioles

Sep 23, 2006 - 3:18 PM Minnesota (90-63) at Baltimore (68-87) 4:35 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- With a few more losses to the Baltimore Orioles, the Minnesota Twins might see their chance for the American League Central title slip away.

The Twins look to bounce back from consecutive losses Saturday afternoon as they continue a three-game series with the Orioles.

Minnesota, which briefly held first place in the Central this past week, has lost just four of its last 14 games. However, the Twins have been shut down in the past two days after getting blanked in Boston on Thursday and dropping a 7-3 decision in Friday's series opener.

The poor performance by Carlos Silva and inability to get to Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera dropped the Twins 1 1/2 games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. Minnesota does hold a 5 1/2-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL wild card.

The Twins will look to rebound behind young righthander Scott Baker (5-8, 6.33 ERA).

In three starts this month, Baker has pitched well twice with both outings having been on the road. In Cleveland last Sunday, the 25-year-old allowed one run and two hits in six innings.

Baltimore, which has won five of its last six games, got a homer and three RBI from Brian Roberts in Friday's win. Miguel Tejada also had three hits, moving six shy of the team record of 211 set by Cal Ripken in 1993.

The development of Erik Bedard (15-9, 3.62) has been a major highlight in Baltimore's ninth straight losing season. Bedard was 0-3 with a 4.15 ERA in August but has rebounded to go 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA in four starts in September.