(My Sportsbook) - Minnesota entered the All-Star break riding an eight-game losing streak and was in danger of becoming an afterthought in the AL Central race. At the time the Twins sat in third place in the division, 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Kansas City Royals.

What a difference a week makes.

The Twins have opened the second half of their campaign looking like a new team, one focused on its goal of catching the pesky Royals and defending its division crown.

Minnesota has yet to lose since the hiatus, going 5-0 to return to the .500 mark for the season (49-49). As a result, the Twins now trail Kansas City by 5 1/2 games for the Central perch.

It started with a four-game sweep of the mighty Athletics at the Metrodome, in which Minnesota was able to hang losses on each of Oakland's Big Three (Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder). The Twins, who finished the season 8-1 against Oakland, outscored the A's 24-12 in the series and swept a four-game set from Oakland for the first time since August 1993.

"We finished off a very big series," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after the series finale. "Hopefully we'll be able to carry it over and get back in this race."

The Twins were then faced with another tough AL West opponent in their next outing, as they opened a two-game set with the Seattle Mariners Monday. But Minnesota came through once again, pulling out a 5-4 victory to keep their winning streak alive.

With the score knotted at 4-4, Chris Gomez knocked in the go-ahead run with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Eddie Guardado then pitched the ninth to preserve the win and record save No. 23.

Gomez, who is filling in for the injured Corey Koskie at third base, had three hits in the contest. Koskie has been out since July 11 with a back injury.

"In the course of a season, unfortunately, guys go down," Gomez said. "But you got to prepare for situations like this."

Torii Hunter ended 3-for-4 with a homer for the Twins.

The source of the turnaround can be dated back to July 16, when the Twins acquired leftfielder Shannon Stewart from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Bobby Kielty. Minnesota is unbeaten since making the deal.

But it's not Stewart's offensive abilities that are vital to the Twins, rather his presence to serve as a wake-up call for the underachieving squad.

WHO'S HOT

Hunter has collected four homers, seven RBI and six runs scored over his last six games.

Doug Mientkiewicz has totaled two homers, seven RBI and five runs scored in his past four contests.

WHO'S NOT

Luis Rivas is hitting just .179 (5-for-28) over his last 10 games with no RBI and just one run scored.

COMING UP

After finishing their set with Seattle, the Twins welcome the Royals to town for a brief but important two-game series. Minnesota then heads to Cleveland for a three-game set with the Tribe.