(My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Twins continue their push towards the postseason this evening, when they continue their 14-game road trip with the first of four clashes against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum.

Minnesota, who will close the trip with a visit to Toronto after this series, is 3-4 thus far on the trek and enters tonight's tilt a game back of the first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and 2 1/2 behind the Boston Red Sox for the Wild Card.

The Twins did not help their cause any earlier in the week, dropping two of three to the lowly Seattle Mariners, but salvaged the finale of the set on Wednesday. Brian Buscher's pinch hit two-run single in the eighth inning proved to be the difference in Minnesota's 6-5 win.

Denard Span added a two-run double and a huge defensive play for the Twins, who snapped a four-game skid.

Minnesota starter Glen Perkins (12-3) allowed four runs on eight hits in seven innings to pick up the win. Joe Nathan earned his 36th save with a perfect ninth.

Heading to the hill for the Twins tonight will be right-handed rookie Nick Blackburn, who has lost his last two starts. Blackburn was defeated by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday, as he allowed six runs (3 earned) and 10 hits in 4 2/3 frames, dropping him to 9-8 on the year to go along with a 3.78 ERA.

Blackburn lost his only career appearance against the A's two starts ago, surrendering three runs and six hits in eight innings of a 3-2 loss.

Oakland will counter with lefty Dana Eveland, who is 8-8 with a 4.30 ERA. Eveland returned to the A's rotation and picked up a win Saturday in Seattle, as he gave up just a run and five hits in seven innings. He has never faced the Twins.

Oakland took two of three from the AL West-leading Angels heading into this series, thanks to a 6-5 win in Wednesday's rubber match in Anaheim. Emil Brown hit a two-run homer and finished with three runs driven in for the Athletics, while Rajai Davis scored twice and notched his first career four-hit game to aid in the victory.

Bobby Crosby had a two-run double for the A's, who now have alternated wins and losses over the last eight games. Eric Patterson went 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the win.

Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez received a no-decision after he gave up four runs on three hits and five walks in three-plus innings of work. Huston Street (4-5) got the win after he tossed 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief with three strikeouts. Brad Ziegler recorded the final five outs to earn his sixth save of the year.

Minnesota has split its six matchups with the A's this season, but holds a 14-9 advantage in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign.