Currently: Nothing has been going right for Minnesota lately, and a matchup against a pitcher that has dominated the Twins could make it difficult for them to halt their troubles.
The reeling Twins hope to avoid their first seven-game losing streak in nearly five years when they meet Paul Byrd and the Cleveland Indians in the middle contest of the teams’ three-game series at Progressive Field on Wednesday.
After winning three of its first four games in June, Minnesota (31-34) has lost six straight. It’s the worst stretch for the team since it dropped eight consecutive games from July 5-13, 2003.
During this skid, Minnesota has been outscored 44-17 and is hitting 8-for-45 (.178) with runners in scoring position, while the pitching staff has compiled an 8.08 ERA.
Though Scott Baker became the first Twins starter in seven games to work at least six innings Tuesday night, he was outpitched by C.C. Sabathia in a 1-0 defeat in the series opener.
The Twins have lost the first five games on their 10-game road swing, their longest skid as a visitor since dropping six in a row July 7-27.
The Indians (30-35), meanwhile, have won two in a row for the first time since a three-game run from May 13-15. They have allowed just two runs, 12 hits and struck out 12 in the two victories.
Byrd (3-5, 4.46 ERA) looks to continue Cleveland’s strong run when he takes the mound against a Twins team he has defeated more times than any other club in his career.
He is 10-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 17 starts versus the Twins, going 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA in his last seven. He limited the Twins to one run and six hits in seven innings on April 20, but left without a decision in a 2-1, 10-inning defeat in Minnesota.
The right-hander was effective on Friday, holding Detroit to just two hits and four runs over seven innings of a 4-2 road win - the 100th of his career.
Byrd is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in five starts in Cleveland, where Minnesota has lost 19 of its last 28.
However, it wasn’t all bad news for the second-place Twins on Tuesday as they remained 6 1/2 games behind the AL Central-leading White Sox, who lost at Detroit.
Minnesota also got a strong outing from Baker, who gave up one run and eight hits over seven innings.
“If we go out and pitch like this, I like our chances (Wednesday),” backup catcher Mike Redmond told the Twins’ official Web site. “If we continue to do this over the course of time, we’ll be fine.”
Nick Blackburn (4-4, 3.94) hopes the Twins can provide him some run support as he tries for his first win in five starts.
The right-hander looks to forget his most recent game, when he was roughed up for seven runs and eight hits in a 10-6 road loss to the White Sox on Friday. He lasted just four innings for his shortest outing of the season.
Blackburn fared much better in his first career start versus the Indians on April 19, scattering eight hits over 7 2-3 innings in a 3-0 home win.
It is unclear if Blackburn will face Indians second baseman Josh Barfield, who left in the top of the sixth inning on Tuesday with a strained left middle finger.
Barfield, who hit .243 with three homers and 50 RBIs for the Indians last season, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
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