Houston Astros (30-35) at Minnesota Twins (35-34), 7:10 p.m.
Sports Network | June 20, 2009
(Sports Network) - Although they are just a single game over .500 entering the weekend, the Minnesota Twins still have to be pleased about the fact that they are a mere two games out of first place in the American League Central as they play the second of three against the Houston Astros at the Metrodome tonight.
Winners of two straight and three of the last four Minnesota, the team with the best home record in the AL at 24-13, picked up a pair of doubles and two RBI from Delmon Young, while Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel also contributed two hits apiece in the team's 5-2 victory on Friday.
"We faced one of the best pitchers in baseball today. We managed to get a couple things to drop in, got some runs and did the little things to get a win," Young said of his team's battle against Houston ace Roy Oswalt.
Starting pitcher Kevin Slowey became just the second 10-game winner in the majors this season as he tossed six solid innings for the home team, allowing just a single run in the process. Slowey permitted only three hits and struck out six as he survived four walks as he tied Toronto's Roy Halladay for the major-league lead in wins.
However, Slowey had to make an early exit from the contest after experiencing stiffness in his right side.
"It just kind of stiffened up and I let the trainers know about it. I didn't feel it at all (during the game). "We swung the bats really well and against another good pitcher. He (Oswalt) pitched a whole lot better than his line indicated."
Oswalt made it through all eight innings for the visitors, the Astros now five games under .500 and six games off the pace in the National League Central as a result. He allowed 10 hits and was a bit erratic with his control as he walked four and struck out only four.
Of Houston's five hits on the night, two came off the bat of Darin Erstad, but that still didn't compensate for the fact that Miguel Tejada, who is now hitting .336, struck out three times.
Getting his first-ever look at the Houston Astros tonight, Scott Baker heads to the hill for Minnesota. The righthander, who needs one more strikeout to reach 400 for his career, threw seven solid innings in his most recent start on Sunday, but he failed to earn a decision in the 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
The trip to Wrigley Field saw Baker allow just a pair of runs on five hits, striking out five, without issuing a single walk. Since posting four walks in a loss to the White Sox back on May 19, Baker has fanned a total of 33 batters and walked only two during a five-game stretch.
As for the Astros, they have Brian Moehler scheduled to counter this evening. Moehler, who is 17 games below .500 (78-95) for his career, currently shows a 2-4 lifetime record versus the Twins in 10 appearances.
The North Carolina product has bounced back from a 1-3 start on the season to win two of his last four appearances, including what became an 8-3 triumph over Arizona on Sunday. Against the Diamondbacks Moehler survived a pair of home runs, six hits total and a couple of walks in six innings of work.
Minnesota took two of three games when these clubs clashed three seasons ago in Houston. The Twins have won eight of their last 11 meetings versus the Astros.
