Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2012 ) Minnesota 6, Boston 4

The Boston Red Sox remain winless in August and could be staring at an embarrassing four-game sweep at home against the Minnesota Twins in Sunday's series finale. Sitting two games under .500 and five games back in the American League wild card chase, the Red Sox have looked like anything but a playoff contender against the Twins. Boston coughed up a two-run ninth-inning lead Saturday after failing to hold a four-run advantage the previous day to fall to an unthinkable 27-32 at Fenway Park.

A 10-26 start pretty much doomed the season for the Twins, who have shown some moxie by winning seven of their last nine games. Joe Mauer ended a 16-game homerless drought with a three-run shot in the ninth inning Saturday to lift the Twins, whose only losses in the past nine games were a pair of one-run decisions against AL Central-leading Chicago. Ben Revere will carry a career-best 18-game hitting streak into Sunday's matchup.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NESN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Nick Blackburn (4-6, 7.43 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Franklin Morales (2-2, 3.32)

Blackburn rebounded from one of his worst outings of the year with one of his best, limiting the White Sox to two runs on five hits in a season-high eight innings last time out. He is winless in his last five starts and continues to struggle with the long ball, allowing a pair in four of his last six outings. Blackburn is 2-2 in seven appearances (six starts) versus Boston.

Morales rejoins the starting rotation to take the place of Josh Beckett, who is missing his start because of back spasms. Morales performed admirably in five starts earlier this season, logging a 2-1 mark and 3.42 ERA. His last start came at Tampa Bay on July 13, when he allowed two hits in five scoreless innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Minnesota has won three straight at Fenway Park for the first time since running off five in a row in 1993-94.

2. Red Sox rookie Pedro Ciriaco hit his first career homer Saturday. He is batting .338 since he was called up from Triple-A in early July.

3. The Twins will be seeking their first four-game sweep of the season.