Oakland @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2010 ) Oakland 3, Minnesota 4
Brian Duensing doesn't get a lot of recognition among baseball fans around the country, but for the second straight season, he's come to the rescue for the Minnesota Twins.
Just as he did a year ago, the left-hander has provided a big lift to Minnesota's rotation during the most important part of the season.
Tired of watching Nick Blackburn struggle in every outing, manager Ron Gardenhire sent the right-hander to the bullpen last month. The skipper then called on Duensing, who had made 39 appearances out of the bullpen.
The decision has paid off handsomely, considering how well Duensing has pitched and the fact Blackburn is at Triple-A Rochester.
Duensing is 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in four starts. He has pitched at least six innings in his last three starts and has gradually increased his pitch count.
The hurler is coming off perhaps his best start in the big leagues on Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. He gave up four runs - three earned - in a career-high 7 1/3 innings.
Duensing showed the composure of an experienced starter by overcoming a rocky beginning. He allowed three runs in the first and another in the second before holding the Indians in check as his teammates rallied for a 5-4 win.
It's not often a reliever pitches well after moving into the rotation, especially late in the season, but Duensing has managed to do so two years in a row. Last season, he was 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA in seven starts from Aug. 22-Sept. 23 as the Twins were able to chase down the Detroit Tigers.
Trevor Cahill, another hot pitcher, takes the mound for Oakland. The right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in his last three starts, spanning 25 innings. Cahill has pitched eight innings in a pair of victories over the Texas Rangers, as well as tossing a three-hit, complete-game gem against the Kansas City Royals.
Cahill, who was named to the American League All-Star team, gave up two runs in his last start against the Rangers. The runs, however, were unearned thanks to sixth-inning errors by shortstop Cliff Pennington and catcher Kurt Suzuki.
Minnesota's 4-3 win on Friday night was its fifth in six games and helped it maintain its slim one-game lead in the AL Central. The Twins have taken three of four this season from Oakland.