Baltimore @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2011 ) Baltimore 8, Minnesota 1

THE STORY: The Baltimore Orioles stumbled into Minnesota riding a five-game losing streak, but they have turned things around in the first two games of the four-game set against the Twins. The Orioles have held Minnesota to one run in each game to record back-to-back victories over the same opponent for the first time since July 16-17 against Cleveland. A victory in either of the next two games would give Baltimore its first series win since taking two of three from Cincinnati on June 24-26. The latest setback dropped the Twins to 5-15 in August.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2, FSNO

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie (5-16, 4.55 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kevin Slowey (0-1, 6.20 ERA).

Guthrie leads the majors with 16 losses and could be headed for 20. After missing his last start due to a sore shoulder, Guthrie will hope to build upon a history of success against Minnesota. He is 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) vs. the Twins. Guthrie was a hard-luck loser to Minnesota in April, despite giving up two runs in seven innings in a 3-1 defeat.

Slowey's first start of the season was not one to remember. He was raked for six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the New York Yankees in his first official outing in three months due to shoulder and abdominal injuries. A winner of 35 games in his last three seasons with the Twins, Slowey is 1-2 with a 4.80 ERA in three starts vs. the Orioles.

ABOUT THE TWINS (55-73): Minnesota managed just four hits against converted reliever Alfredo Simon on Tuesday. The Twins have scored one run or fewer four times in losing five of their last six. Brian Duensing put Minnesota in a 7-0 hole after 2 ½ innings in losing his fifth straight start. Justin Morneau was back in his cleanup spot after a two-game absence, but he combined with Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to go 0-for-13. Danny Valencia hit his second homer in four games after failing to go deep in his previous 23 contests.

ABOUT THE ORIOLES (49-77): After not holding an opponent to one run or less since June 10, Baltimore has done it on consecutive nights. Nolan Reimold jump-started the offense with a three-run homer, and J.J. Hardy, Vlad Guerrero and Mark Reynolds contributed three hits apiece. Reynolds, who is batting .357 (10-for-28) over his last seven games, had his first triple of the season. His last one came on July 19, 2010. Hardy is 11-for-28 during a six-game hitting streak. Nick Markakis went 0-for-5 and had his eight-game streak halted.

FINAL PITCH: Orioles center fielder Adam Jones left Tuesday's game after one inning due to illness. He was taken to the hospital to undergo some tests.