Twins-Oakland series preview
July 29, 2011 at 11:39AM
Three-game series at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Today, 9:07 p.m. • FSN, 1500ESPN
LHP Francisco Liriano (6-8, 4.82) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-7, 2.67)
Saturday, 8:07 p.m. • FSN, 1500ESPN
RHP Nick Blackburn (7-7, 4.21) vs. RHP Guillermo Moscoso (3-5, 3.47)
Sunday, 3:07 p.m. • FSN, 1500ESPN
RHP Carl Pavano (6-7, 4.60) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-5, 3.52)
Twins update: Liriano is 0-2 with a 6.29 ERA in five starts in Oakland -- his highest ERA in any road park with at least that many starts. Blackburn isn't much better: 1-1, 5.72 ERA in five starts. ... The Twins are 8-9 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum over the past three seasons.
Athletics update: The Athletics averaged 3.42 runs a game and hit .233 before the All-Star break. Since then (entering play Thursday) they are averaging six runs a game and batting .321. ... SS Cliff Pennington has an 11-game hitting streak during which he's 19-for-39. ... Gonzalez is 2-2 with an 8.03 ERA in his career against the Twins but has turned into a pretty nice pitcher with an excellent curveball. ... Oakland has used the DL 25 times this season, second most in club history.
LA VELLE E. NEAL III
about the writer
The Twin Cities await major leaguers and minor leaguers both, families and athletes melding professional and personal lives.
