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Brewers-Twins Preview

May 22, 2009 - 6:09 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Milwaukee (26-15) at Minnesota (19-23), 8:10 p.m. EDT

For the past three weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers have been the best team in baseball.

Over the past three years, the Minnesota Twins have been one of the toughest teams to beat in interleague play.

On Friday night at the Metrodome, the red-hot Brewers look to continue their surge in the opener of a three-game series against a Twins team coming off its most-lopsided victory of the season.

After winning the NL wild card in 2008 to end a 26-year postseason drought, Central-leading Milwaukee (26-15) looks like it can make a return trip to the playoffs this season.

On Thursday, the Brewers rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Houston 4-3. Prince Fielder had a two-run single and Corey Hart had an RBI double for Milwaukee, which has won eight of nine and is a major league-best 14-3 since May 3.

"It's about winning or losing," Ryan Braun told the Brewers' official Web site. "We didn't play a great game (Thursday), but we found a way to win. That's what good teams do."

Braun has been instrumental to Milwaukee's offense with a .326 average and 30 RBIs, but he's 8 for 41 (.195) with one homer and three RBIs in nine career games against the Twins (19-23).

Minnesota won 14 of 18 against the NL last season and is 41-13 in interleague games since 2006. The Twins, who took four of six from Milwaukee in 2008, are 22-5 at home in interleague play the past three seasons.

Minnesota returns to the Metrodome, where it's won 11 of 15, following Thursday's 20-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

"It was a good win and a good way to try and build up some momentum going into the homestand," Michael Cuddyer told the Twins' official Web site.

"The past three years the National League has jump-started us."

After the Twins lost the first six games of their road trip, manager Ron Gardenhire shook up his batting order Thursday and the strategy worked.

Joe Mauer, batting second for the first time this season, had a grand slam, two doubles and a career-high six RBIs. The two-time All-Star catcher, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games, is batting .515 (17 for 33) with four home runs, three doubles and 13 RBIs in nine home games this season.

Jason Kubel, who hit .429 (9 for 21) with four homers and six RBIs versus the Brewers in 2008, was moved to the cleanup spot Thursday and finished with three hits and two RBIs.

"I like that lineup," said Cuddyer, who had four hits - including his sixth homer - and three RBIs. "I'm an advocate of anything that produces 20 runs."

Kevin Slowey (5-1, 4.50 ERA) was a big part of Minnesota's success in interleague play last season and takes the ball in the opener.

Slowey went 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA in five starts versus the NL in 2008 and recorded a 1.06 ERA in winning both outings against the Brewers.

On Sunday, the right-hander gave up two runs, seven hits and no walks with a season-high eight strikeouts in 7 2-3 innings of a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the New York Yankees.

Milwaukee's Manny Parra (3-4, 4.57) looks to win his fourth straight start Friday.

After posting a 6.52 ERA in losing his first four starts, Parra is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four outings this month. On Sunday, the left-hander gave up two runs, five hits and four walks in six innings of an 8-2 victory over St. Louis to win his third start in a row.

Parra also has been strong in interleague play. He recorded a 1.42 ERA in winning all three starts against AL opponents last season and on June 28 at Minnesota, he allowed two hits while striking out six in seven scoreless innings of a 5-1 victory.