Twins Host A's, Seek First Win Streak Of Year 

Twins Host A's, Seek First Win Streak Of Year

Veteran righthander Esteban Loaiza seeks his 11th career win against the Minnesota Twins when the Oakland Athletics visit the Metrodome for the second of a three-game series.

Loaiza, who was on the losing end of a 6-2 verdict to the Seattle Mariners Thursday in his first 2006 appearance, is 10-8 lifetime against the Twins in 23 appearances (20 starts) with a 3.71 earned run average in 131 innings.

The 34-year-old was 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 34 starts with the Washington Nationals last season and is 112-100 with a 4.61 ERA over 335 big-league appearances, including 298 starts.

Mound opponent Carlos Silva was also beaten in his 2006 curtain-raiser, allowing five hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Silva was 9-8 with a 3.44 ERA in 27 starts for Minnesota in 2005.

He's made four appearances and three starts against Oakland in his career, picking up no-decisions throughout while compiling a 2.25 ERA in 24 innings.

On Tuesday, Tony Batista cracked a three-run home run to highlight a six-run third inning as Minnesota bested Oakland, 7-6, in the Twins' home opener.

Batista finished 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Twins, who snapped a four-game skid and won just their second tilt of the season. Justin Morneau was 1-for-4 and also hit a home run for Minnesota, while Joe Mauer was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Brad Radke (2-0) started and settled down after a rocky start. The veteran righthander toiled seven innings and gave up four runs on six hits.

Eric Chavez was 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored for the Athletics, who lost for the first time in four games. Bobby Crosby was 2- for-5 with a home run for Oakland.

Dan Haren (0-1) started and was touched for seven runs on nine hits in just six innings of work en route to the loss.

Oakland took three of four in their lone visit to the Metrodome last year and has won six of the last nine meetings between the clubs in Minnesota.