(Sports Network) -- The young but talented Trevor Cahill will toe the rubber this evening for Oakland when theAthletics take on the Minnesota Twins tonight in the second installment of a three-game set at Target Field.
Cahill has won six of his last nine starts, including three straight. The last time the young right-hander was on the mound was Sunday, when he grabbed his 12th win with an outstanding effort against Texas. In eight innings of work against the Rangers, the California native surrendered two unearned runs and struck out three batters without issuing a walk.
This will be the second start for Cahill against Minnesota this season, and the fourth in his career. In a matchup with the Twins earlier this season, he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings. Cahill, who did not factor in the decision of that game, walked four and struck out six.
As for the Twins, they will hand the ball to Brian Duensing, who has worked as a reliever and as a starter this season. The last time the southpaw was on the mound he started against Cleveland and earned a tough victory on Sunday.
In the win over the Indians, Duensing allowed four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. He did not walk a batter in the win and finished with three strikeouts.
Duensing has made four career appearances against Oakland, and in one of those meetings he was a starter. However, overall the crafty twirler is 1-0 with an impressive 2.19 earned run average against Oakland.
In Friday's opener of this series, Carl Pavano gave up just two runs in the start to help the Twins down the Athletics, 4-3.
Pavano (15-7) went 6 1/3 innings and was charged with 10 hits and a walk along with four strikeouts for the Twins, who have won five of their last six. Danny Valencia went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead Minnesota offensively, while Jason Kubel and Drew Butera each drove in a run.
Gio Gonzalez (10-8) was charged with four runs -- two earned -- on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over six innings for the Athletics, who have dropped three of four. Daric Barton and Jack Cust each drove in a run in the loss.
Minnesota has taken three of the four meetings with Oakland this season.