The Minnesota Twins hope to continue their recent strong play on the road this afternoon when they close out their four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
The Twins have posted just a 22-26 mark away from home this season, but have won three of their last four on the road.
Kevin Slowey will toe the rubber for the Twins this afternoon looking to snap a personal four-game winless streak. Slowey, who has just two victories in his last 10 starts, has been inconsistent throughout the season.
The last time the right-hander was on the mound he lasted just 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland, allowing three runs, while striking out seven batters. It was a mediocre performance for Slowey, but he did not factor in the decision.
Pitching on the road has been a problem for the crafty hurler, as he comes into this matchup with a mere 3-2 ledger as the visitor, to go along with a lackluster 5.98 earned run average.
This will be the third career start for Slowey against Baltimore, but the first two meetings did not go so well for the righty, as he lost both matchups, allowing seven runs in nine total innings.
Jake Arrieta, one of the young arms in the rotation for Baltimore, will take the hill for the Orioles today in the finale. Arrieta has just one victory in his last six starts, and has three total wins on the season.
The last time the young hurler was on the hill he surrendered five runs on four hits and four walks against Tampa Bay. However, despite the poor effort by Arrieta, the Orioles still managed an 11-10 victory.
This will be the first-ever start for Arrieta against the Twins.
On Saturday, Delmon Young went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer to help back seven strong innings from Scott Baker, as the Twins beat the Orioles, 7-2.
Baker (8-9) was efficient and effective, throwing 61 of his 89 pitches for strikes. He gave up two runs and four hits, walked one, and struck out eight in snapping a two-start losing streak.
Young, who drove in three overall, recorded his second four-hit game of the season. Danny Valencia added three hits and drove in one for the Twins, who have won three of four.
Orioles starter Brian Matusz (3-11) labored through five innings, in which he threw 96 pitches. The left-hander gave up six hits, walked three and got in a number of potentially dangerous situations, but limited the damage to three runs.
However, every Orioles pitcher after Matusz let in at least one run as Baltimore lost for the seventh time in its last nine games.
Luke Scott went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer to power the Orioles' offense.