Milwaukee @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2011 ) Minnesota 2, Milwaukee 6
THE STORY: The Milwaukee Brewers have struggled on the road this season, but they’ve had plenty of success against the Minnesota Twins lately. The visiting Brewers will try to end a three-game losing streak with an eighth straight win over the Twins on Friday. The Brewers outscored the Twins by a 21-6 margin during a three-game sweep at Miller Park last weekend. They will try to rough up Francisco Liriano for the second time in five days. The Twins, meanwhile, have won two straight since a 15-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
TV: 8:10 pm. ET, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports North
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Francisco Liriano (4-7, 4.98 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Yovani Gallardo (9-4, 3.92 ERA).
Liriano entered last Friday’s start against the Brewers with a 2.20 ERA over his last seven outings, but was rocked for six runs – five earned – and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of an 11-1 loss. He is 3-2 with a 4.05 ERA in five starts against Milwaukee. Liriano has fared well against National League RBI leader Prince Fielder, who has just one hit in 13 at-bats against the lefthander.
Gallardo matched up against Liriano in the last meeting and allowed one run and six hits in seven innings for his first win in four starts. He had been 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA over his last three outings. Gallardo is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in three career starts against Minnesota.
ABOUT THE TWINS (34-45): The Twins were sixth in the majors in runs scored last season (787), but injuries have hampered them in 2011. They are currently ranked 26th with 287 at the halfway mark. Minnesota had been outscored by a 47-8 margin during a six-game losing streak prior to taking the final two contests of its series with the Dodgers. A return to Target Field, where the Twins have won eight of nine, could be beneficial. Joe Mauer, who missed 58 games due to bilateral weakness, is riding a modest five-game hitting streak that has raised his average 27 points to .213. The Twins’ starters have accounted for 14 of the team’s 17 wins this month, but the bullpen (MLB-worst 4.98 ERA) isn’t pulling its weight.
ABOUT THE BREWERS (44-38): The Brewers’ road woes continued at Yankee Stadium. Milwaukee was outscored 22-4 while being swept in a three-game series in the Bronx. The Brewers’ eighth loss in 10 road games dropped them to 15-27 away from home, which is the worst road record of any winning team in the majors. In contrast, the Brewers are 29-11 at Miller Park. Ryan Braun went 3-for-3 in Thursday’s 5-0 loss to the Yankees, extending his career-best hitting streak to 20 games. He is hitting .373 (28-for-75) with three homers and 17 RBIs during just sixth 20-game hitting streak in franchise history. Fielder, who leads the NL with 69 RBIs, had his 11-game hitting streak snapped. He has 10 RBIs in his last 12 games.
FINAL PITCH: Thursday’s 5-0 loss marked the seventh time the Brewers have been shut out. All of them have been on the road.