MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire believes injuries have been a major contributor to his team's lackluster defense this season. The Twins have committed three errors in the first two games of a three-game set against Oakland, and have now made a total of 84 errors on the season.

Minnesota has already committed as many or more errors as it did in three of Gardenhire's six full seasons as manager. The Twins are currently on pace to have more errors than any previous Gardenhire-led team. They had 102 in 2005.

The team entered Tuesday's game ranked 22nd in the Majors in fielding percentage (.982). The Twins' defensive efficiency, as ranked by Baseball Prospectus, was also 22nd in the big leagues. Defensive efficiency measures the rate that balls put in play are converted into outs by a club's defense.

"Our numbers aren't very good, I know that, but at times we have played really, really good defense," Gardenhire said. "But everything's changed. We haven't had a set lineup out there in the infield all year. You get going for a couple weeks and then it seems like it ends. That's difficult when everybody is changing around."

The trend continued on Tuesday, when shortstop Adam Everett and left fielder Delmon Young were sidelined with injuries. They were replaced by Brendan Harris and Jason Kubel, respectively. Gardenhire is hoping for a defensive upgrade when injured second baseman Alexi Casilla returns to the club, which is expected for Wednesday's series finale.

"[The defense] isn't where we normally are, but injuries have played a big part of that," Gardenhire said.

The Twins are 5-16 (.238) when they have committed two or more errors in a game and 66-38 (.635) when they commit fewer than two errors.

Pitching matchup
MIN: LHP Francisco Liriano (3-3, 4.97 ERA)
Liriano has been fantastic since returning from the Minors on Friday, including a victory over Seattle his last time out. He went seven innings and didn't allow an earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out five. He is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 1. Liriano, who didn't pitch in 2007 while recovering from elbow surgery, last faced the A's in 2006, and didn't allow a run against them over four innings in two appearances.

OAK: LHP Dallas Braden (3-2, 4.50 ERA)
Braden tossed seven strong innings in his most recent start, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk against the White Sox, but drew a no-decision. He strained his groin slightly on a fastball to Jim Thome, but the injury has not altered his side work. Braden, who is 2-1 on the road this season in eight appearances, including three starts, will be facing the Twins for the first time in his young career.

Tidbits
Gardenhire was asked if he would teach Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to slide after the signal caller was injured while scrambling in a preseason game over the weekend. "We teach headfirst around here -- that's a joke," Gardenhire said. "We have a few guys that can teach him how to slide on his butt." ... Gardenhire has discussed September callups with the front office, saying: "We've been going over that off and on. There are decisions to be made. Since we are going to be on the road during this, we had to talk about them now. We've thrown some names out there and we are trying to figure it out." ... Randy Ruiz has hit safely in nine of 10 games since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 1. ...

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Up next
• Thursday: Twins (Scott Baker, 7-3, 3.91) at Angels (John Lackey, 10-2, 3.22), 9:05 p.m. CT
• Friday: Twins (Glen Perkins, 10-3, 4.17) at Angels (Joe Saunders, 14-5, 3.14), 9:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Twins (Nick Blackburn, 9-7, 3.71) at Angels (Jon Garland, 11-8, 4.33), 8:05 p.m. CT