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Red Sox-Twins Preview

May 26, 2009 - 1:38 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Boston (26-18) at Minnesota (22-23), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona doesn't mind seeing the red-hot Joe Mauer in the Minnesota Twins' lineup - as long as his team can continue its winning streak against them.

The AL East-leading Red Sox look to win their seventh straight over Mauer and the Twins on Tuesday night at the Metrodome.

Boston (27-18) has outscored Minnesota (22-24) 48-19 during six consecutive wins in the series. Their most recent matchup was much closer, however, with the Red Sox holding on for a 6-5 victory Monday.

Mauer delivered a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth off closer Jonathan Papelbon to cut Boston's lead to one, but Delmon Young flied out to end it, snapping Minnesota's four-game winning streak.

It was only the third time since coming off the disabled list May 1 that Mauer, who was hit by a pitch on the right wrist Sunday, didn't start. The reigning AL batting champion has only taken one day off completely since returning.

Mauer, batting .444 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 23 games this season, has homered in three straight contests. He is two home runs shy of matching his career high, set in 2006.

"It's really, really hard to sit him down, but you have to," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You just can't take a chance and wear him out."

Mauer is batting .329 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 22 career games against Boston.

"I'm glad he came up where he could hit that ball as far as he wanted - and he about did - but it doesn't lose us the game or tie the game," Francona told the Red Sox's official Web site. "Believe me, we knew he was sitting over there. We were watching from the sixth inning on seeing if he was going to get loose, because he is that good."

Francona's team has won five of seven overall and has scored five or more runs in four of the last six games. They had 16 hits for the second consecutive afternoon Monday, with Mike Lowell going 4 for 5 and Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay each driving in a pair of runs.

Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 20 games Monday. He is batting .330 (30 for 91) with 13 runs scored during the streak.

With left-hander Francisco Liriano starting Monday, struggling Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz was given the day off. Ortiz, hitting .195 with one home run, could return to the lineup Tuesday against right-hander Nick Blackburn batting somewhere other than his customary No. 3 spot.

The Red Sox hand the ball Tuesday to Jon Lester (3-4, 5.91 ERA), who snapped a personal two-game losing streak Thursday, allowing one run and eight hits over 6 1-3 innings of a 5-1 victory over Toronto. The left-hander had allowed 13 runs over 10 innings in his previous two starts.

Lester made two starts against the Twins last season, yielding eight earned runs over 12 2-3 innings. Boston split those two contests, but he did not earn a decision in either.

Blackburn (3-2, 3.83) pitched seven scoreless innings for the second time in three starts in his last outing, but had a much more favorable outcome thanks to some exceptional run support.

He gave up four hits in a 20-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday after the Twins scored six runs over his previous three starts.

Blackburn was 1-0 in two starts against Boston last season, allowing six runs over 12 2-3 innings.