SB Nation Minnesota - Twins Vs. Yankees: Minnesota Settles For Series Splithttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-04-19T21:47:39-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27169112012-04-19T21:47:39-05:002012-04-19T21:47:39-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees Final Score: Minnesota Can't Top Curtis Granderson, New York In Series Finale
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<p><span>Curtis Granderson</span> hit three home runs in a 5-for-5 game and knocked in four of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>' seven runs in the Twins' 7-6 loss on Thursday night. Yankees starter <span>Phil Hughes</span> picked up the win and <span>Mariano Rivera</span> recorded his third save of the season. Twins starter <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> lasted only 2.2 innings and was pinned with the loss. </p>
<p>After a high scoring start, in which the Yankees held a 6-4 lead, things settled down in the latter seven innings. After Granderson hit his third home run of the game in just the fourth inning, the Twins responded with a two-run home run off the bat of <span>Ryan Doumit</span> in the sixth to pull within a run. The Yankees' pen threw 3.2 shutout innings, though, to seal the series split. </p>
<p>Doumit plated four runs in the game and <span>Danny Valencia</span> had two runs batted in on two hits. </p>
<p>Minnesota continues their road trip with three against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> this weekend before heading home for six straight. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Twins, head over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.twinkietown.com/">Twinkie Town</a>. For more MLB coverage, check out<a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/19/2961579/twins-vs-yankees-final-score-curtis-granderson-home-runs-2012Packey2012-04-19T20:13:00-05:002012-04-19T20:13:00-05:00 Curtis Granderson Hits 3 Home Runs In 4 Innings As Yankees Lead Twins
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<p>The <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> have a chance to take three of four in New York on Thursday night, but <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a>' center fielder <span>Curtis Granderson</span> is making it very hard on them. In three at bats, Granderson has hit not one, not two, but <i>three </i>home runs and the Yankees have a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth.</p>
<p>Granderson hit 41 home runs for the Yankees last year (21 at home and 20 on the road), but has never had a three home run game. He did have four two home run games last year, though.</p>
<p>The Twins scored four unearned runs in the top of the first inning off Phil Hughes, but the Yankees responded with three in the bottom half, three more in the second, and another in the fourth on Granderson's third home run. Twins starter <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> lasted just 2.2 innings in allowing six runs on eight hits.</p>
<p>In the top of the sixth inning, <span>Ryan Doumit</span> hit a two-run homer to cut the Twins' deficit to one.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Twins, head over to <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Twinkie Town</a>. For more MLB coverage, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/19/2961390/curtis-granderson-home-runs-twins-yankees-score-update-2012Packey2012-04-19T15:26:40-05:002012-04-19T15:26:40-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees: Minnesota Looks To Win The Series
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> (4-8) look for their third win in four nights Thursday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> (6-6) at Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised locally on FS-N and the first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.</p>
<p>Twins starting pitcher <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> (0-2, 3.75 ERA) seeks his first win of the season, while his counterpart, <span>Phil Hughes</span> (0-2, 9.00 ERA) is also winless. Swarzak has the lowest ERA on Minnesota's pitching staff, however, the offense has only produced one run in each of his two starts this season.</p>
<p><span>Justin Morneau</span> powered the Twins to a 6-5 win Wednesday night with two home runs and three RBI. <span>Jason Marquis</span> earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing four runs. </p>
<p>Following Thursday's game, Minnesota heads out to Tampa Bay to begin a three-game set with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> on Friday.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Twins, head over to <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com">Twinkie Town</a>. For more MLB coverage, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a>. </i></p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/19/2960802/minnesota-twins-vs-new-york-yankees-game-preview-yankee-stadium-anthony-swarzakTommy King2012-04-18T21:58:26-05:002012-04-18T21:58:26-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees Final Score: Minnesota Bullpen Hangs On For 6-5 Victory
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<p>Closer <span>Matt Capps</span> made things a tad uncomfortable in the final inning, but quickly righted the ship to preserve a 6-5 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> victory in New York on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>The Twins totaled 13 hits as a team, and were paced by designated hitter <span>Justin Morneau's</span> 3-for-4 night from the plate that included a pair of home runs and three RBI. The strong game moved Morneau's season average to .279, and also boosted his slugging percentage all the way up to .605. No. 9 batter <span>Alexi Casilla</span> also turned in a 3-for-4 night at the dish and stole his second base of the season.</p>
<p>Picking up the win for Minnesota was starter <span>Jason Marquis</span>, who went five innings and scattered seven hits with four runs allowed. Marquis bested New York's highly-touted offseason acquisition <span>Hiroki Kuroda</span>, who himself left the game after throwing just 81 pitches in 4.1 innings, falling to 1-2 on the year.</p>
<p>With two wins in three days over the Yankees, Minnesota will send 26-year-old starter Anthony Swarzak to the mound on Thursday in the series finale.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Twins, head over to <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com">Twinkie Town</a>. For more MLB coverage, check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a>. </i></p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/18/2959128/twins-vs-yankees-final-score-minnesota-new-york-recapDave Ryan2012-04-18T20:10:15-05:002012-04-18T20:10:15-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees Score Update: Morneau Homers Twice To Give Minnesota 6-4 Lead
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> are desperately trying to avoid falling to 3-9 on the year, so they proceeded to come out and let their bats do the talking on Wednesday in the Bronx against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a>.</p>
<p>The Twins jumped out to an immediate 4-0 advantage after a four-run first inning that was capped off by two-run bomb from first baseman <span>Justin Morneau</span>, but the Yankees rallied back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 4-3. A Sean Burroughs RBI single in third, and then another Morneau home run in the fifth increased the Twins' lead to 6-4.</p>
<p>With 10 hits as a team through just five innings, the Twins have been locked-in at the plate all evening, and have already forced New York starter <span>Hiroki Kuroda</span> to the bench after just 81 pitches and 4.1 innings. Knowing New York's penchant for making things tough on opposing bullpens down the stretch however, it will take steady hand from the mound for Minnesota to feel safe with just a two-run lead.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Twins, head over to <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com">Twinkie Town</a>. For more MLB coverage, head over to <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/18/2958903/twins-vs-yankees-score-update-minnesota-justin-morneau-homers-twiceDave Ryan2012-04-18T15:21:03-05:002012-04-18T15:21:03-05:00Luke Hughes Designated For Assignment To Make Room For Jason Marquis
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> have designated second baseman <span>Luke Hughes</span> for assignment in order to open up a roster spot for starting pitcher <span>Jason Marquis</span>, according to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Twins_designate_Luke_Hughes_for_assignment_to_make_room_for_Marquis041812">Tom Pellisero of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities</a>.</p>
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<p>Hughes, who has appeared in four games this season, is out of minor-league options. So, he would have to clear waivers before the Twins could send him to triple-A Rochester.</p>
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<p>Marquis, who signed with the Twins for one year and $3 million, is set to make his season debut on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a>. The 12-year veteran has a career-record of 104-98 and an ERA of 4.55. </p>
<p>This season, Hughes was 2-for-10 with four strikeouts and two RBI. He has played in 102 games over the past three seasons for the Twins.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/minnesota-twins">Minnesota Twins</a>, head over to <a href="http://twinkietown.com/">Twinkie Town</a>. More on the <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/new-york-yankees">New York Yankees</a> can be found at <a href="http://pinstripealley.com/">Pinstripe Alley</a>. For more on MLB in general check out <a href="http://baseballnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/18/2958233/minnesota-twins-roster-luke-hughes-designated-for-assignment-jason-marquisTommy King2012-04-18T10:26:44-05:002012-04-18T10:26:44-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees: Minnesota Tries To Take Series Lead In Game Three
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<p>If the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> want to have a shot at winning their first series in quite a while at Yankee Stadium or at least earn a tie in the four game series, they're going to need to avoid having any more two ejection, two and two third inning starting pitching performances. Tuesday's game featured both gaffes and the Twins lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> 8-3 as a result after taking game one of the series.</p>
<p>Game three of the series will feature journeyman and New York native <span>Jason Marquis</span> on the mound for the Twins. After missing a large chunk of spring training, this will be Jason's first start of the year. He'll take on <span>Hiroki Kuroda</span> for the Yankees. In his two starts so far this season, Kuroda has gone 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA in games against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a>.</p>
<p>The offense will need to wake up for the Twins if Marquis can't put together a great start, their win in game one came when they scored seven runs.</p>
<p>The game will be at Yankee Stadium at 7:05 p.m. ET.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,'Liberation Sans',FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/minnesota-twins" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Minnesota Twins</a>, head over to <a href="http://twinkietown.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Twinkie Town</a>. More on the <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/new-york-yankees" class="sbn-auto-link" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">New York Yankees</a> can be found at <a href="http://pinstripealley.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Pinstripe Alley</a>. For more on MLB in general check out <a href="http://baseballnation.com/" style="outline-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/18/2957404/yankees-vs-twins-preview-game-threeChris White2012-04-17T22:58:31-05:002012-04-17T22:58:31-05:00Twins Vs. Yankees Final Score: Francisco Liriano Lasts Only 2-Plus Innings In Minnesota's 8-3 Loss
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<p>Already dealing with injuries to three of their starting pitchers, the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> would have liked to see <span>Francisco Liriano</span> evoke some hope by rebounding from his first start and throwing well against the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a> on Tuesday night, but the lefty only lasted 2.1 innings in giving up five runs en route to his second loss of the season.</p>
<p>Liriano (0-2, 11.91 ERA) lasted longer than his skipper Ron Gardenhire and teammate <span>Denard Span</span>, though, who were both ejected in the top half of the third inning in the middle of Span's at bat. <span>Clete Thomas</span> replaced Span and promptly doubled in a run and later scored on a <span>Jamey Carroll</span> single to give the Twins an early 3-1 lead.</p>
<p>Liriano gave the lead right back in the third, though, as the Yankees scored all they would need, although they would add a run in the fourth, fifth and seventh.</p>
<p>Josh Willingham homered in the second inning for the Twins, who had only five hits and just one after the third inning against Yankees' starter <span>CC Sabathia</span>. Sabathia threw seven-plus innings and recorded his first win of the 2012 season.</p>
<p>Minnesota and New York will play the third of a four-game series on Wednesday night with first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m. CT.</p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/minnesota-twins" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Minnesota Twins</a>, head over to <a href="http://twinkietown.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Twinkie Town</a>. More on the <a href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/mlb/teams/new-york-yankees" class="sbn-auto-link" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">New York Yankees</a> can be found at <a href="http://pinstripealley.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pinstripe Alley</a>. For more on MLB in general check out <a href="http://baseballnation.com/" style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #113d85; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/4/17/2956562/twins-vs-yankees-final-score-francisco-liriano-ron-gardenhire-ejected-2012Packey