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Twins-Orioles Preview

May 7, 2009 - 6:13 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (13-15) at Baltimore (11-17), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles are playing a relatively short series. Even their first contest was pared down.

After their first matchup was cut short due to rain, the weather in Baltimore is expected to clear up as the Twins try to avoid being swept in a two-game set with the Orioles on Thursday night.

Baltimore (11-17) won the series opener 4-1 on Wednesday night, beating Minnesota (13-15) in a game stopped due to rain with one out in the top of the sixth inning.

After three rain delays totaling 3 hours and 26 minutes, the Orioles won for just the third time in 12 games. Baltimore should have a chance to win consecutive games for the first time in three weeks Thursday, when showers are expected to clear up before game time.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was angry after Wednesday's contest, preferring to play a doubleheader Thursday than to wait out multiple delays.

"Once we got going we tried to play five innings, and major league baseball is nine innings," he said. "We didn't get a chance to do that because of the weather. Somebody made a mistake here. I don't know who's supposed to be accountable for this, but my team ends up paying the final price here because we lose a baseball game."

Assisted by the shortened contest, Baltimore won for the first time in 14 games when scoring fewer than five runs. The Orioles may need to top that mark to have a chance to win with Brad Bergesen (1-0, 5.17) on the mound.

The 23-year-old right-hander has allowed eight runs in his last two outings, spanning 10 innings.

In his third career start, Bergesen gave up three runs and six hits in six innings as Baltimore lost to Toronto 5-4 in 11 innings Saturday.

This will be his first appearance against Minnesota.

Bergesen may not have to contend with Twins third baseman Joe Crede, who missed Wednesday's game because of a stomach ailment. Brendan Harris would likely get a second straight start for Crede, batting .218 with three home runs in his first season with Minnesota.

Twins starter Glen Perkins (1-2, 3.34), meanwhile, will likely have to try to keep red-hot Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis in check.

Markakis had two hits in the series opener, including his fifth home run of the season and third in his last two games versus Minnesota. He's batting .364 with 29 RBIs this season and .353 with seven home runs and 14 RBIs in 14 home games against the Twins.

Markakis is 3-for-3 against Perkins, who has been terrible in two starts and two relief appearances versus the Orioles, posting an 11.74 ERA without receiving a decision.

The left-hander is coming off his worst start of the season, getting tagged for five runs and 10 hits in six innings as Minnesota lost to Kansas City 10-7 in 10 innings Saturday night.

Perkins has allowed nine runs in his last two starts after yielding just four in his first three outings.