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Red Sox-Twins Preview

May 25, 2009 - 4:53 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Boston (25-18) at Minnesota (21-23), 2:10 p.m. EDT

Red-hot Justin Morneau played a big part in helping the Minnesota Twins sweep a division leader. He'll try to continue his impressive production Monday when the Twins open a four-game home series against another first-place team - the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.

Morneau's grand slam powered Minnesota to a 6-3 win over Milwaukee on Sunday night and completed a three-game sweep. The first baseman went 6 for 10 with a triple, a homer and seven RBIs during the series as the Twins (22-23) extended their winning streak to four following a season-high six-game skid.

Minnesota is also riding a six-game home winning streak, and it last won seven in a row at the Metrodome from July 1-19, 2008.

The club is 17-9 at home this season, and Morneau has played a key role with a .438 average (21 for 48), five homers and 18 RBIs over the last 13 games there.

Overall, the 2006 AL MVP and two-time All-Star leads the Twins in batting (.343), homers (13) and RBIs (40) to rank among the AL leaders in each category.

Morneau will now try to maintain his hot hitting against the Red Sox (26-18). He's batting .357 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 30 career games against them, going 7 for 15 with three RBIs as the Twins took three of four in the last series at Minnesota from May 9-12, 2008.

Francisco Liriano (2-5, 6.04 ERA) hopes to benefit from Morneau's production, and rebound from one of his worst performances of the season.

The left-hander was tagged for a season high-tying seven runs and seven hits, including two homers, in four innings of a 7-4 road loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

"I think I overthrow when I've got men on base," Liriano told the Twins' official Web site. "That's been a big problem for me all year long. So I got to just calm down. I'm rushing too much."

Liriano's outing matched his shortest of the season, which came in a 7-3 loss at Boston on April 22. He allowed seven runs and four hits with four walks in four innings, as the Twins were swept in a two-game set that was played as a doubleheader due to rain on April 21.

The Red Sox open a 10-game road trip after beating the New York Mets 12-5 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

An excellent team at Fenway Park, Boston is only 9-12 on the road after dropping three of its last four. The Red Sox will also visit Toronto and AL Central-leading Detroit during this swing.

"We're going to get a good test in these 10 days here," Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay told the club's official Web site. "People want to know the difference between road and home (performance), and I can't really put my finger on it."

The Red Sox will give the ball to Brad Penny (4-1, 6.07), who is 2-0 with a 4.19 ERA in his last three starts while reaching the seventh inning in each outing.

The right-hander was impressive in Wednesday's 8-3 win over Toronto, throwing six scoreless innings before giving up two runs and four hits and leaving with two outs in the seventh.

Penny is 1-0 with a 5.25 ERA in two career starts against the Twins. He earned that victory opposite Liriano on April 22 after allowing three runs - two earned - and six hits in six innings.