Minnesota @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( May 30, 2016 ) Minnesota 2, Oakland 3

The Oakland Athletics attempt to close out the month with their second four-game winning streak in less than two weeks when they host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game set. Oakland, which captured four in a row from May 15-18, made it three straight on its six-game homestand with a 3-2 triumph in the series opener.

Danny Valencia is 7-for-10 over his last three games for the Athletics, who haven't lost a home series against the Twins since being swept of a two-game set from May 18-19, 2011. Minnesota squandered a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning Monday and went on to have its season high-tying four-game winning streak halted. Miguel Sano went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to five games but had his string of consecutive contests with a home run halted at four. Sano and Joe Mauer, who also was kept in the yard in the series opener after going deep in each of his previous three games, have combined for seven home runs and 12 RBIs over their last five contests.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Tyler Duffey (2-3, 3.93 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Eric Surkamp (0-3, 6.55)

Duffey picked up his second win in three starts Wednesday despite surrendering five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings against Kansas City. The 25-year-old Texan has been tagged for 11 runs and 18 hits over 12 1/3 frames in his last two outings but has served up only one home run in his last four turns. Duffey, who never has faced Oakland, is 1-1 with an impressive 2.00 ERA in three road starts this year.

Surkamp will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to make his first start for Oakland since yielding four runs in 2 2/3 innings at Boston on May 11. The 28-year-old native of Cincinnati has surrendered 10 runs over 7 1/3 frames in his last two major-league outings after giving up only two in each of his first three turns. Surkamp has made four career relief appearances against Minnesota, allowing four runs and six hits in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins CF Danny Santana left Monday's game in the seventh inning with a strained left hamstring and is day-to-day.

2. Oakland OF Khris Davis has belted 11 home runs in May, the most in a month by a member of the Athletics since Jason Giambi hit 13 in September 2000.

3. Minnesota is planning to send Phil Hughes to the bullpen when fellow RHP Kyle Gibson (shoulder) is activated from the disabled list on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, Athletics 5