SB Nation Minnesota - Baker, Cuddyer Lead Twins To 4-0 Victory And Series Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2010-08-22T22:06:52-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13982852010-08-22T22:06:52-05:002010-08-22T22:06:52-05:00Twins Beat Angels 4-0 to Claim Series
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<p>Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/players/732/Michael_Cuddyer">Michael Cuddyer</a> hit a three-run double to back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/742/Scott_Baker">Scott Baker</a>'s solid performance on the mound, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/teams/minnesota-twins">Minnesota Twins</a> took down the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/teams/los-angeles-angels">Angels</a>, 4-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Target Field.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/players/34236/Danny_Valencia">Danny Valencia</a> hit a solo homer for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/minnesota-twins">Twins</a>, who ended a nine-game homestand with a 7-2 record. Minnesota is now five games ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/teams/chicago-white-sox">White Sox</a> in the AL Central standings. Chicago lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/teams/kansas-city-royals">Royals</a> on Sunday.</p>
<p>Baker (11-9) pitched seven scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision. The right-hander also struck out four and walked two to beat Los Angeles for the first time in his career. He came into the game with an 0-5 mark in eight career starts against them.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/players/605/Hideki_Matsui">Hideki Matsui</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/players/761/Alberto_Callaspo">Alberto Callaspo</a> each had two hits for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/los-angeles-angels">Angels</a>, who finished a six-game road trip with a 2-4 mark.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/mlb/players/713/Jered_Weaver">Jered Weaver</a> (11-9) went six frames in the start, giving up four runs on six hits to suffer his second consecutive loss. He walked four batters and fanned three.</p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/22/1636942/twins-beat-angels-4-0-to-claimJon Marthaler2010-08-22T22:05:11-05:002010-08-22T22:05:11-05:00Twins Set To Host Angels At Target Field
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<p>Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/732/Michael_Cuddyer">Michael Cuddyer</a> hit a three-run double to back <span>Scott Baker</span>'s solid performance on the mound, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/minnesota-twins">Minnesota Twins</a> took down the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/los-angeles-angels">Angels</a>, 4-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Target Field.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34236/Danny_Valencia">Danny Valencia</a> hit a solo homer for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Twins</a>, who ended a nine-game homestand with a 7-2 record. Minnesota is now five games ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/chicago-white-sox">White Sox</a> in the AL Central standings. Chicago lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/kansas-city-royals">Royals</a> on Sunday.</p>
<p>Baker (11-9) pitched seven scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision. The right-hander also struck out four and walked two to beat Los Angeles for the first time in his career. He came into the game with an 0-5 mark in eight career starts against them.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/605/Hideki_Matsui">Hideki Matsui</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/761/Alberto_Callaspo">Alberto Callaspo</a> each had two hits for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>, who finished a six-game road trip with a 2-4 mark.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/713/Jered_Weaver">Jered Weaver</a> (11-9) went six frames in the start, giving up four runs on six hits to suffer his second consecutive loss. He walked four batters and fanned three.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/20/2319659/twins-set-to-host-angels-at-target-fieldChristopher Gates2010-08-22T11:42:37-05:002010-08-22T11:42:37-05:00Twins Look To Salvage Series Against Angels Tonight
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<p>The Minnesota Twins will attempt to end their nine-game homestand on a high note, as they conclude a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight at Target Field.</p>
<p>The Twins have gone 6-2 on their current homestand, helping extend their AL Central lead to four games over the White Sox.</p>
<p>Minnesota, however, squandered a 3-0 first-inning lead on Saturday, as the Angels used 16 hits to claim a 9-3 victory.</p>
<p>Peter Bourjos and Bobby Abreu clubbed back-to-back homers in the second inning for the Angels, who had dropped four of five coming in.</p>
<p>Trevor Bell gave up three runs on four hits and a career-high six walks in 4 1/3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez (1-3) limited the Twins to one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief to pick up the win.</p>
<p>“This is a really good bounce back game, from what we did in the batter’s box to running the bases,” said Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia.</p>
<p>Michael Cuddyer stroked a two-run single in a three-run first for Minnesota, which had won 10 of its last 11 home games.</p>
<p>Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (11-6) departed after three innings because of a strained right triceps muscle. He gave up four runs on seven hits versus Los Angeles, one outing after tossing seven hitless innings against Oakland.</p>
<p>Minnesota placed him on the disabled list after the game.</p>
<p>The Twins will try to bounce back behind Scott Baker, who has won three straight decisions, although he has allowed eight earned runs over his last two starts. On Tuesday, the right-hander gave up four earned runs and seven hits over just 4 2/3 innings, but Minnesota still came away with a 7-6 win over Chicago in 10 innings.</p>
<p>Baker has struggled greatly in his career against the Angels, going 0-5 with a 5.82 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in eight career starts versus them. He last faced them on April 5th, surrendering four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-3 loss.</p>
<p>Jered Weaver opposed Baker in that game and he permitted three runs in six innings to capture the victory. With the outcome, Weaver improved to 4-1 with a 3.64 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in seven career starts versus Minnesota.</p>
<p>The right-hander, however, is coming off a rocky start on Tuesday, when he allowed six earned runs in five innings of a 6-0 loss at Boston. Weaver had boasted a 2.93 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in six starts prior to that outing.</p>
<p>The Angels have won eight of their last 13 clashes with the Twins and swept a three-game series in their final visit to the Metrodome last year. Minnesota did take three of four from Anaheim in a season-opening series in Southern California this past April, however.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/22/1636229/twins-look-to-salvage-seriesChristopher Gates2010-08-21T21:31:24-05:002010-08-21T21:31:24-05:00Slowey Injured As Twins Fall to Angels 9-3
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<p>Peter Bourjos and Bobby Abreu clubbed back- to-back homers in the second inning, as the Los Angeles Angels went on to beat Minnesota, 9-3, in the second portion of a three-game series at Target Field.</p>
<p>Bourjos added an <span class="caps">RBI</span> triple for the Angels, who had dropped four of five coming in. Trevor Bell gave up three runs on four hits and a career-high six walks in 4 1/3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez (1-3) limited the Twins to one hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief to pick up the win.</p>
<p>“This is a really a good bounce back game, from what we did in the batter’s box to running the bases,” said Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia.</p>
<p>Michael Cuddyer stroked a two-run single in a three-run first for Minnesota, which had won 10 of its last 11 home games. The Twins began the day with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. Chicago is scheduled to play a double-header against Kansas City on Saturday.</p>
<p>Twins starting pitcher Kevin Slowey (11-6) departed after three innings because of a strained right triceps muscle. He gave up four runs on seven hits versus Los Angeles, one outing after tossing seven hitless innings against Oakland.</p>
<p>Minnesota placed him on the disabled list after the game.</p>
<p>The Twins spotted Slowey a three-run lead in the first inning. Denard Span led off with a walk and swiped second before Joe Mauer drew a one-out walk. Both runners came home on Cuddyer’s two-out single. Cuddyer took second on a walk to Jim Thome and scored on Delmon Young’s base hit.</p>
<p>Los Angeles quickly countered with a four-spot in the second. Back-to-back singles by Hideki Matsui and Erick Aybar put runners on the corners to start the inning. Mike Napoli followed with a sacrifice fly. One out later, Bourjos tied the game with a blast to left field for his first career major league home run. Abreu’s 15th home run of the season put the Angels in front.</p>
<p>A two-out <span class="caps">RBI</span> triple by Bourjos extended the lead to 5-3 in the fifth.</p>
<p>Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Jason Kubel was gunned down at the plate attempting to score on Young’s fly ball to center.</p>
<p>The Angels tacked on two more runs in the sixth. Jeff Manship, who replaced Slowey on the mound, was lifted in favor of Ron Mahay with two outs and a runner on first. Matsui then hit a ball to center that couldn’t be reeled in by Span. Torii Hunter scored easily and Matsui wound up on third because of the error. Aybar followed with an infield single to plate Matsui for a 7-3 Los Angeles advantage. Mahay was injured on the play and left the game.</p>
<p>Jeff Mathis tripled home Napoli in the ninth and scored when Minnesota shortstop J.J. Hardy misplayed a grounder off the bat of Bourjos.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Mahay landed on the DL with a shoulder injury. The Twins recalled pitchers Nick Blackburn and Anthony Slama from Triple-A Rochester…Abreu joined Alex Rodriguez and Vladimir Guerrero as the only active players with at least 15 home runs in each of the last 13 seasons (1998-2010)…Howie Kendrick and Aybar both had three hits for the Angels…The Twins still lead the season series, 4-2.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/21/1635680/slowey-injured-twins-lose-angelsChristopher Gates2010-08-21T14:54:28-05:002010-08-21T14:54:28-05:00Slowey, Twins Hope To Stay Hot Against Angels
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<p>Kevin Slowey will try to churn out another quality start for Minnesota today, as the Twins resume a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Target Field.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Slowey flirted with a no-hitter, keeping Oakland without a hit through seven innings before being lifted in a controversial move by manager Ron Gardenhire. The move paid off since Slowey and the Twins earned a 4-2 victory over the Athletics.</p>
<p>Slowey, who hasn’t allowed more than one earned run in three of his last four starts, has been especially good at home, boasting a 7-3 record with a 3.39 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 13 outings. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 15 innings at Target Field.</p>
<p>In five career starts versus the Angels, Slowey is 3-1 with a 4.00 <span class="caps">ERA</span>. He last faced Anaheim on April 8th, surrendering one earned run and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-1 triumph.</p>
<p>Slowey is hoping to duplicate last night’s effort from Brian Duensing, who tossed eight innings of one-run ball in Minnesota’s 7-2 win over the Angels.</p>
<p>Duensing (7-1), who tossed his first career complete game in a 2-0 win over Oakland last Saturday, gave up seven hits and fanned six batters in the opener of this three-game set. He moved to 9-1 in 15 career starts.</p>
<p>“The only thing I wish I had a better command of was fastballs,” Duensing said. “I thought we did a good job of mixing up the speeds to plate, kind of kept them off balance.”</p>
<p>Duensing threw 78 of his 103 pitches for strikes.</p>
<p>Jason Kubel hit a three-run homer off Dan Haren in the third inning as Minnesota widened its lead to 4 1/2 games over Chicago in the AL Central. The White Sox had their game at Kansas City postponed by rain Friday, causing a doubleheader on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Twins, who have won seven of their last eight overall, have captured 10 of their last 11 at home.</p>
<p>Howie Kendrick had three of LA’s eight hits and scored on Torii Hunter’s double-play grounder in the fourth inning. The Angels are now eight games behind first-place Texas in the AL West.</p>
<p>“There’s no way you can think about being out of it,” Hunter said. “If I catch any player saying we’re out of it they should go home and never play baseball again. That’s what you do in any sport. We’re just going to keep playing baseball and hopefully we can get a hot streak somewhere and they can get a losing streak. It’s all about a little luck.”</p>
<p>Haren (1-4) was touched for 11 hits and seven runs over seven innings as Los Angeles lost for the fourth time in five games.</p>
<p>Getting the call for Angels today will be Trevor Bell, who is making a spot start following two showings in the bullpen. The right-hander last started on August 8th, when he gave up six runs — four earned — and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 9-4 loss at Detroit.</p>
<p>Bell has never faced Minnesota in his career.</p>
<p>The Angels have won seven of their last 12 clashes with the Twins and swept a three-game series in their final visit to the Metrodome last year. Minnesota did take three of four from Anaheim in a season-opening series in Southern California this past April, however.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/21/1635252/slowey-twins-hope-to-stay-hotChristopher Gates2010-08-20T21:48:51-05:002010-08-20T21:48:51-05:00Duensing, Kubel Lead Twins Past Angels 7-2
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<p>Brian Duensing sparkled on the mound for a second straight start, this time tossing eight innings of one-run ball, as the Twins grabbed a 7-2 win over the Angels at Target Field.</p>
<p>Duensing (7-1), who tossed his first career complete game in a 2-0 win over Oakland last Saturday, gave up seven hits and fanned six batters in the opener of this three-game set. He moved to 9-1 in 15 career starts.</p>
<p>Jason Kubel hit a three-run homer off Dan Haren in the third inning as Minnesota widened its lead to 4 1/2 games over Chicago in the AL Central. The White Sox had their game at Kansas City postponed by rain Friday, causing a doubleheader on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Twins, who have won seven of their last eight overall, have captured 10 of their last 11 at home.</p>
<p>Haren (1-4) was touched for 11 hits and seven runs over seven innings as Los Angeles lost for the fourth time in five games.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/8/20/1634445/duensing-kubel-twins-angelsChristopher Gates