Minnesota Twins vs Oakland Athletics match review and authentic live streaming link radio commentry espn 360 gamecast May 19, 2011. The Minnesota Twins are on the verge of matching their longest win streak of a trying season, but they may have to produce a few more runs to accomplish that feat.
That may not be easy as they'll face surprising Tyson Ross in Thursday's finale of a two-game set with the Oakland Athletics.
3:35 PM ET, May 19, 2011
Overstock.com Coliseum, Oakland, California
"As easy as you lose games you can win games," Plouffe said.
The Twins, hitting .207 over their last 11 contests, previously won three in a row May 3-6 and matching that streak might prove tough against Ross, who is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up two runs and six hits over a career-high 7 1/3 innings in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
"He's learning how to pitch," catcher Kurt Suzuki told the team's website. "We all knew he had great stuff and now he's not trying to go too fast. He's slowing himself down. Quality location, making quality pitches and good things happen."
Ross (3-2, 2.50 ERA), who has never started against Minnesota, joined the A's rotation after Dallas Braden needed season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.
"We'll miss Dallas for sure," reliever Brad Ziegler said. "At the same time, I feel like we haven't missed a beat with Tyson. Everybody always talks about in basketball that when one guy goes down, it's not like you're playing four on five. Somebody else comes in, and that's the same case here."
Like Ross, Minnesota's Nick Blackburn (2-4, 3.70) has also thrived lately, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last three starts
Blackburn pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings Saturday against Toronto and retired 17 straight during one stretch of that game. However, he also gave up a tying triple to one of the final batters he faced.
"That kind of spoils what would've been a pretty good outing," he said. "I still feel pretty good. I made some pretty good pitches and all that stuff, but the fact that it ended that way is still pretty frustrating."
Blackburn might not have much better luck Thursday as he's 0-4 with a 7.99 ERA in last five starts against Oakland. The right-hander, though, gave up an unearned run and six hits during a 1-0 defeat at Target Field on April 9.
He might catch a break in this matchup with Coco Crisp possibly out of the lineup due to personal reasons. The A's outfielder, who is 8 for 16 in his last four games, is 5 for 11 in his career against Blackburn.
"I'm not positive if he'll be back tomorrow, but hopeful," manager Bob Geren said.
Delmon Young has the Twins' only hit against Ross, but he is 2-for-17 with 10 strikeouts since returning from the disabled list. He's also been held out of the lineup for consecutive days but might return Thursday.
"Delmon was scuffling along, and this gives him a chance to take (batting practice) and get out there and relax a little bit and watch a couple (games)," manager Ron Gardenhire told the team's website. "So we'll let him get back in there tomorrow."
That may not be easy as they'll face surprising Tyson Ross in Thursday's finale of a two-game set with the Oakland Athletics.
3:35 PM ET, May 19, 2011
Overstock.com Coliseum, Oakland, California
Preview: Twins at AthleticsDespite averaging 2.3 runs in its last six games, Minnesota (14-27) managed to record consecutive wins for the fourth time this season with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings Wednesday in Oakland. Trevor Plouffe went 2 for 4 with a career-high three RBIs, including the go-ahead sacrifice fly.
Current Conditions - Oakland
P/SUNNY 55 °F
Wind: SSE 9
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Minnesota Twins (14-27) at Oakland Athletics (22-21)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 19 - 3:35 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
"As easy as you lose games you can win games," Plouffe said.
The Twins, hitting .207 over their last 11 contests, previously won three in a row May 3-6 and matching that streak might prove tough against Ross, who is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up two runs and six hits over a career-high 7 1/3 innings in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
"He's learning how to pitch," catcher Kurt Suzuki told the team's website. "We all knew he had great stuff and now he's not trying to go too fast. He's slowing himself down. Quality location, making quality pitches and good things happen."
Ross (3-2, 2.50 ERA), who has never started against Minnesota, joined the A's rotation after Dallas Braden needed season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.
"We'll miss Dallas for sure," reliever Brad Ziegler said. "At the same time, I feel like we haven't missed a beat with Tyson. Everybody always talks about in basketball that when one guy goes down, it's not like you're playing four on five. Somebody else comes in, and that's the same case here."
Like Ross, Minnesota's Nick Blackburn (2-4, 3.70) has also thrived lately, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last three starts
Blackburn pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings Saturday against Toronto and retired 17 straight during one stretch of that game. However, he also gave up a tying triple to one of the final batters he faced.
"That kind of spoils what would've been a pretty good outing," he said. "I still feel pretty good. I made some pretty good pitches and all that stuff, but the fact that it ended that way is still pretty frustrating."
Blackburn might not have much better luck Thursday as he's 0-4 with a 7.99 ERA in last five starts against Oakland. The right-hander, though, gave up an unearned run and six hits during a 1-0 defeat at Target Field on April 9.
He might catch a break in this matchup with Coco Crisp possibly out of the lineup due to personal reasons. The A's outfielder, who is 8 for 16 in his last four games, is 5 for 11 in his career against Blackburn.
"I'm not positive if he'll be back tomorrow, but hopeful," manager Bob Geren said.
Delmon Young has the Twins' only hit against Ross, but he is 2-for-17 with 10 strikeouts since returning from the disabled list. He's also been held out of the lineup for consecutive days but might return Thursday.
"Delmon was scuffling along, and this gives him a chance to take (batting practice) and get out there and relax a little bit and watch a couple (games)," manager Ron Gardenhire told the team's website. "So we'll let him get back in there tomorrow."
