Twins Vs. Reds Final Score: Josh Willingham's 2-Run HR Powers Minnesota Over Cincinnati, 4-3

The Minnesota Twins pulled the rug right out from underneath an unsuspecting Cincinnati Reds squad on Sunday afternoon, as outfielder Josh Willingham came through with a game-winning ninth inning home run to give his team a series victory in exciting fashion.

Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman entered in the top of the ninth inning with a chance to record the save after a gem from starter Mike Leake, but gave up a quick hit to Denard Span before Willingham's monster blast turned the tide. The blown save was Chapman's fourth of the season, and marked the 15th longball of the year for the streaking left fielder.

Twins starter Scott Diamond once again turned in a strong performance when his team needed it most, going eight innings of three-run ball to lower his 2012 ERA down to 2.67. The now 6-3 Diamond also set a career-high with seven strikeouts, and looks fully poised for a huge second half of the year after joining the rotation in early May.

Next up for the Twins is a three-game divisional series against the Chicago White Sox that opens on Monday from U.S. Cellular Field.

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Twins Vs. Reds Starting Lineups: Minnesota Catcher Joe Mauer To Make Return Behind The Plate

The Minnesota Twins will try to take their three-game interleague set with the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park on Saturday afternoon, as recently banged-up catcher Joe Mauer will make his triumphant return to his usual duties behind the plate.

Mauer played first base and finished 1-for-4 against the Reds in Saturday's game, but was eased back into action in order to give a much-needed rest to No. 5 hitter Justin Morneau. The two vital sluggers will each assume their regular positions and spots in the batting order on Ron Gardenhire's lineup card on Sunday afternoon, as they get set to face Cincinnati right-hander Mike Leake, who is 2-5 with a 4.70 ERA this season.

Here are the starting lineups for Sunday's series finale:

Twins
1. Ben Revere - CF
2. Darin Mastroianni - RF
3. Joe Mauer - C
4. Josh Willingham - LF
5. Justin Morneau - 1B
6. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
7. Brian Dozier - SS
8. Alexi Casilla - 2B
9. Scott Diamond - SP

Reds
1. Chris Heisey - CF
2. Wilson Valdez - SS
3. Joey Votto - 1B
4. Brandon Phillips - 2B
5. Jay Bruce - RF
6. Ryan Ludwick - LF
7. Todd Frazier - 3B
8. Devin Mesoraco - C
9. Mike Leake - SP

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Twins Vs. Reds: Minnesota Closer Matt Capps Bothered By Shoulder Again

Twins closer Matt Capps could be headed back to the Disabled List with continued shoulder soreness, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities Sunday morning on his weekly radio segment.

Matt Capps “not good” after pitching yesterday. Back to square one with the shoulder apparently.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 24, 2012

Capps had not pitched since June 15 when Gardenhire brought him on in Saturday’s game against Cincinnati with the Twins trailing 5-0. Capps threw 23 pitches, giving up a hit and a run.

According to the Star-Tribune, Gardenhire said Capps will have an MRI when the club returns to Minnesota. Glen Perkins is in line to pick up save opportunities should Capps head to the disabled list. He has two saves this season, both coming in the last several days.

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Twins Vs. Reds: Minnesota Pitcher TJ Walters Could Return Saturday

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Twins right-handed pitcher PJ Walters could return Saturday against Kansas City if two bullpen sessions this week are successful.

The 28-year-old started 2012 in Triple-A and pitched to a 3-1 record with a 2.70 ERA before earning a promotion to Minnesota. With the Twins, he was 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA before hitting the 15-day Disabled List with shoulder issues.

Walters made short appearances in Major League Baseball in 2009 (16 innings, 9.56 ERA) and 2010 (30 innings, 6.00 ERA) with the St. Louis Cardinals and in 2011 with the Toronto Blue Jays after coming over in the Colby Rasmus-Edwin Jackson deal.

At the very least, a healthy Walters will provide Ron Gardenhire with extra rotation depth.

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Twins Vs. Reds: Minnesota Looks For Series Win Over First-Place Cincinnati

Scott Diamond will toe the rubber for Minnesota as the Twins, in their final interleague series of the season, attempt to take two of three games from the first-place Reds.

Diamond (5-3, 2.57 ERA) posted perhaps his worst outing of 2012 on Tuesday against Pittsburgh, giving up four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old lefty will need to keep the ball down in homer-friendly Great American Ball Park, and Diamond’s pitching style is conducive to doing just that. He’s walked just eight batters and given up seven home runs in 56 innings this season, and he gets 2.5 ground ball outs for every fly ball out.

Diamond will have to contend with surging Reds third basemen Scott Rolen, who’s 7-for-18 with a homer and five RBIs since returning June 18 from a shoulder strain.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati will trot out righty Mike Leake (2-5, 4.70 ERA), who tossed a gem against Cleveland in his last outing (7 IP, 1 R) and hasn’t lost since May 11.

First pitch from Cincinnati is slated for 1:10 pm EDT.

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Twins Vs. Reds Final Score: Minnesota Loses In Cincinnati, 6-0

The Minnesota Twins could only string together three hits and failed to score a single run against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, dropping a 6-0 decision.

This loss for the Twins evens the series between these interleague opponents going into the rubber match on Sunday.

The fourth inning was showed to be the most defining of them all, as it gave the Reds a 4-0 lead that the Twins obviously never contested. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer that scored Joey Votto. Then Scott Rolen hit an RBI double later in the inning. Even Johnny Cueto, the Reds' pitcher, plated a run for his team in that inning (albeit it wasn't a hit).

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Twins Vs. Reds: Minnesota Tries To String Two Wins Together At Cincinnati

The Minnesota Twins will look to win two games in a row on Saturday afternoon when they resume their interleague series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.

The Twins have alternated between wins and losses over their last five games after ending a four-game losing streak last Sunday against Milwaukee. Now the Twins will try to build on their 5-4 win Friday night when they rallied from behind in the sixth inning and then enjoyed a solid effort by the bullpen to shut down the Reds in the final four innings.

On Saturday, the Twins will dip into the bullpen to find a starting pitcher as left-hander Brian Duensing will make his first start of the season after making 30 appearances so far. Duensing started 28 games last season for the Twins, finishing with a 9-14 record.

The Reds will counter with right-hander Johnny Cueto who is off to a strong start for the Reds with an 8-3 record and 2.38 ERA in 14 starts so far this season.

The game is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday and will be televised on Fox Sports North.

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Twins Vs. Reds Final Score: Minnesota Hangs On For 5-4 Win

The Minnesota Twins' 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night may end up being a footnote in the debate about the safety of home plate umpires. Jerry Layne left the game after a the barrel of Devin Morasco's broken bat hit him in the side of the head in the fourth inning.

Layne fell to the ground, and had to be escorted off the field to an area hospital. Reports late on Friday night were unsure whether or not he sustained a concussion. Layne was going to undergo an MRI and an X-Ray. He was wearing a face mask, but nothing protecting the side of his head.

Minnesota trailed 4-3 until the sixth inning when Homer Bailey walked in the tying run, which was followed by a Ben Revere sac fly to move the Twins ahead on the scoreboard.

Cincinnati put two men on base in the bottom of the ninth against Glen Perkins. With one out and runners on first and third, Perkins struck out two hitters to earn his second save.

Nick Blackburn picked up his fourth win of the season. He allowed four runs in five innings of work, including a pair of home runs surrendered in the tiny Cincinnati ball park. His counterpart, Bailey, was chased in the sixth.

Minnesota will try to make it two straight at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday.

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Twins Vs. Reds: Starting Lineups For Friday's Interleague Series Opener

Losers of seven of their last 10 games, the Minnesota Twins will aim to right the ship on Friday evening as they open up a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ballpark.

While injured slugger Joe Mauer remains out, Ryan Doumit will once again assume the catching duties for the Twins, and will bat sixth on Friday against Cincinnati pitcher Homer Bailey. Directly ahead of Doumit in the order is none other than red-hot third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who has already recorded nine home runs and nine multi-hit games in the month of June alone.

Getting the ball for manager Ron Gardenhire to kick the series off will be right-hander Nick Blackburn, who will be making his 11th start of 2012. Blackburn's inordinately-high 7.42 ERA seems to indicate that his time in the rotation may not last much longer if he can't figure things out soon, despite the fact that he's walked away with a victory in each of his last three decisions.

Here are Friday's starting lineups for both teams:

Twins
1. Denard Span - CF
2. Ben Revere - RF
3. Josh Willingham - LF
4. Justin Morneau - 1B
5. Trevor Plouffe - 3B
6. Ryan Doumit - C
7. Brian Dozier - SS
8. Jamey Carroll - 2B
9. Nick Blackburn - SP

Reds
1. Zack Cozart - SS
2. Chris Heisey - CF
3. Joey Votto - 1B
4. Brandon Phillips - 2B
5. Jay Bruce - RF
6. Ryan Ludwick - LF
7. Scott Rolen - 3B
8. Devin Mesoraco - C
9. Homer Bailey - SP

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Twins Vs. Reds: Minnesota To Open Interleague Weekend Set In Cincinnati

On Friday night, the Minnesota Twins will open a three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds.