twins at l.a. angels
series preview
THREE-GAME SERIES at Angels Stadium
Monday, 9:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Samuel Deduno (5-4, 3.61 ERA) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-12, 5.53)
Tuesday, 9:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2, 6.45) vs. Tommy Hanson (4-2, 5.10)
Wednesday, 2:35 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM
RHP Mike Pelfrey (4-7, 5.40) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (4-5, 3.30)
TWINS UPDATE
The Twins have lost five consecutive games in Anaheim and are 14-28 there since 2003, the year after losing to the Angels in the American League Championship Series. … They are 2-0 against the Angels this year, having outscored them 16-8 at Target Field in April. … The Twins have won the season series against the Angels only once (2010) since 2002. ... The Twins are 18-30 on the road, the fewest road victories for any AL team except Houston, and have lost 15 of their past 20 away from home. ... They are 6-3 against the AL West; this is their first series of the season in a West Division ballpark. ... They have grounded into only 52 double plays, by far the fewest in the American League. ... Pelfrey is 3-0 in three career starts vs. the Angels; Deduno and Gibson never have faced them.
ANGELS UPDATE
The Angels got off to a 15-27 start and haven't recovered; they returned from the All-Star break 11 games out of first in the AL West, though they won two out of three against first-place Oakland this weekend. … They are 26-26 at home and 15-7 vs. the AL Central. … Hanson's start Tuesday is his first since returning from a forearm strain he suffered last month. … They are without CF Peter Bourjos (broken wrist) and LHP Jason Vargas (blood clot). … Only four Twins have ever faced Los Angeles closer Ernesto Frieri, who has 24 saves this season. ... Josh Hamilton is batting only .223 with 14 home runs and a .409 slugging percentage in his first season with the Angels. … Mike Trout has a .566 slugging percentage and a .400 on-base percentage.
La Velle E. Neal III
