After allowing a pitcher that went 2-11 in 2010 to look like Cy Young at their expense, the Minnesota Twins will hope to bounce back against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night at Target Field, as they will do battle in the second half of a day/night doubleheader.
Minnesota could manage just five hits in seven innings against David Huff, and was shut out until Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to get the Twins on the board, but it wasn't enough as Minnesota fell to Cleveland by a final score of 5-2.
In order to do that, the Twins will have to generate some offense against Indians' right-hander Fausto Carmona (4-10, 5.78 ERA). Carmona has started one game against the Twins this season, and Minnesota fared quite well against him, generating six runs on seven hits en route to a 10-3 victory over the Indians back on April 23. Carmona has been on the disabled list since July 3, a day after he was only able to throw two innings in Cleveland's 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Minnesota will counter with a man making his Major League debut, left-hander Scott Diamond. The 24-year old from Guelph, Canada, has posted a record of 4-8 with a 4.70 ERA at Rochester this season so far, and was selected by the Twins in the 2010 Rule V Draft from the Atlanta Braves on December 9. Rather than send him back to the Braves during spring training, the team instead elected to send prospect Billy Bulluck to Atlanta, allowing them to keep Diamond in the minor leagues.
First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM Central time. Twinkie Town already has their Game Thread up and running, so check that out for your discussion purposes during the game, and we'll have your recap back here when it's all said and done.