Blue Jays-Twins Preview

5/15/2008 1:43 AM

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

Matt Stairs has always hit well against Minnesota. The Twins are still having trouble getting him out, and this time it has cost them first place in the AL Central.

After yet another outstanding game against the Twins, Stairs and the Toronto Blue Jays look to sweep a series at the Metrodome for the first time in five years when the teams conclude a three-game set Thursday.

Stairs' grand slam helped the Blue Jays (20-22) beat Minnesota 6-5 on Wednesday night, dropping the Twins out of the top spot in the division.

On Tuesday night, Stairs homered, reached base in all three plate appearances and scored twice as Toronto took the series opener 5-3. Minnesota (20-19) entered that game in first place and having won 10 of its last 11 at home, but the Twins are now a half-game behind Cleveland and in danger of being swept at the Metrodome by the Blue Jays for the first time since a three-game set April 4-6, 2003.

Toronto has won nine of 14 games this month, thanks in part to Stairs' hot hitting. The veteran designated hitter is 6-for-10 with two home runs and five RBIs in the Blue Jays' last four games, with Toronto winning three of those contests.

"I feel pretty good right now," Stairs told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "There was a little flaw in my swing for four or five games. ... I got better balance and less head movement."

Stairs has 247 career home runs, 22 of which have come versus the Twins - his highest total against any team. Wednesday's homer was his first grand slam since May 19 and the 11th of his career.

Stairs homered in the last game he played when Dustin McGowan (2-3, 4.47 ERA) started, giving the right-hander a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on May 5. McGowan was outstanding in that game, giving up four hits and striking out six in 7 1-3 innings.

McGowan, though, is coming off one of the worst starts of his career, surrendering nine runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 12-0 loss at Cleveland on Saturday night. He fell to 5-13 with a 6.12 ERA on the road all-time.

McGowan had given up just one run over his previous two starts, spanning 14 2-3 innings. He's made two career appearances against the Twins without allowing a run, with his lone start coming July 24. McGowan pitched 7 1-3 innings and gave up four hits in a 7-0 home victory.

Minnesota will counter with Glen Perkins (0-1, 4.50) as it tries to avoid matching a season worst with three straight losses. In his first major league start Saturday night, Perkins gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings as the Twins lost 5-2 to Boston.

This will be the 25-year-old left-hander's first appearance against Toronto.

Minnesota's pitching staff desperately needs a boost, having posted a 4.91 ERA in its last 10 games. The Twins have split those contests, with their pitchers allowing 13 home runs in 88 innings.

Minnesota has also been hurt by sloppy play the last two games. An error led to a Blue Jays run Wednesday, and the Twins had a runner picked off first and one thrown out trying to advance to third on a comebacker to the pitcher.

"It happens. We're not immune to it," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We work on a lot of things and it happens. ... You don't give people extra outs. We've said that around here forever."