SB Nation Minnesota - Twins vs. Blue Jays: Twins lose season finale 2-1https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-10-03T21:02:47-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/32056112012-10-03T21:02:47-05:002012-10-03T21:02:47-05:00Twins Vs. Blue Jays: Minnesota loses 2-1
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> finished their 2012 season with a 2-1 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> Wednesday. Toronto opened the scoring in the third inning when <span>Rajai Davis</span> singled home <span>Anthony Gose</span>. <span>Adeiny Hechavarria</span> followed that with an RBI single of his own. The Twins scored their lone run when a <span>Matt Carson</span> fielder's choice brought home <span>Ben Revere</span> in the top of the fourth inning. From there, the pitching staffs of both teams took over.</p>
<p>Twins starting pitcher <span>Scott Diamond</span> took the loss despite allowing just two runs over five innings. Diamond allowed five hits and a walk, striking out three. He finishes at 12-9 on the season. <span>Alex Burnett</span> and <span>Luis Perdomo</span> each pitched in relief, holding the Blue Jays scoreless through the game's final three innings.</p>
<p>Toronto starter <span>Brandon Morrow</span> went eight innings, allowing the Twins their sole run, for the win. The victory took Morrow to 10-7 on the year. Blue Jays reliever <span>Brandon Lyon</span> got his first save for finishing the ninth inning.</p>
<p>Minnesota ends the season at 66-96. Toronto will close the year at 73-89.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/3/3452156/twins-vs-blue-jays-minnesota-loses-2-1Patrick Vint2012-10-03T17:25:36-05:002012-10-03T17:25:36-05:00Scott Diamond starts in Twins' season finale
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<figcaption>Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>Scott Diamond gets the start for the Twins, as Minnesota gets ready to wrap up the 2012 season against the Toronto Blue Jays.</p> <p><span>Scott Diamond</span> will start for the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> on Wednesday night, as Minnesota gets set to wrap up a disappointing 2012 season in Toronto against the Blue Jays.</p>
<p>Diamond has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Twins. Diamond carries a 12-8 record with a 3.54 ERA and 1.28 WHIP into Wednesday night's start. Diamond has only struck out 87 in 168 innings of work on the season.</p>
<p>Both Ron Gardenhire and John Farrell have announced Wednesday's starting lineups, and they are as follows:</p>
<h4>Minnesota Twins</h4>
<p>CF <span>Denard Span</span><br>RF <span>Ben Revere</span><br>DH <span>Joe Mauer</span><br>1B <span>Chris Parmelee</span><br>3B <span>Trevor Plouffe</span><br>LF <span>Matt Carson</span><br>2B <span>Eduardo Escobar</span><br> C <span>Drew Butera</span><br>SS Pedro Florimon Jr.</p>
<p>SP Scott Diamond</p>
<h4><a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a></h4>
<p>LF <span>Rajai Davis</span><br>2B <span>Adeiny Hechavarria</span><br>3B <span>Brett Lawrie</span><br>DH <span>Adam Lind</span><br>1B <span>Yan Gomes</span><br> C <span>J.P. Arencibia</span><br>SS <span>Omar Vizquel</span><br>RF <span>Moises Sierra</span><br>CF <span>Anthony Gose</span></p>
<p>SP <span>Brandon Morrow</span></p>
<p>Despite Toronto's young talent, perhaps the most notable starter on Wednesday night is Omar Vizquel, who could be making his last major league appearance.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/3/3451228/twins-vs-blue-jays-starting-lineups-scott-diamondJP Starkey2012-10-03T11:55:14-05:002012-10-03T11:55:14-05:00Twins' President says team will be better in 2013
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<figcaption>Tom Szczerbowski - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Twins team President David St. Peter thinks the team will contend for the division title in 2013. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> will finish in last place in the American League Central for the second straight season, but team President David St. Peter thinks the team can win the division in 2013.</p>
<p>St. Peter told <a href="http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_21679973/shooter-now-2013-minnesota-twins-can-win-division" target="_blank">Charlie Walters of the Pioneer Press</a>:</p>
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<p>"Assuming we do what we're setting out to do, I don't see any reason why we can't be very competitive and, ultimately, win our division in 2013," he said. "I think everybody here believes that. You can turn this thing around quickly.</p>
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<p>St. Peter cites improvements made by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> and Cincinnati <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> in 2012 versus their 2011 campaigns as examples of dramatic improvements from one year to the next. The Orioles finished in last place in the American League East while the Athletics and Reds finished third in their respective divisions in 2011 and all three have qualified for the playoffs this year.</p>
<p>The Twins finished 63-99 in 2011 and are 66-95 this season with one game remaining in the regular season.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/3/3449482/twins-2013-season-recordPardeep Toor2012-10-02T21:00:57-05:002012-10-02T21:00:57-05:00Blue Jays hold off Twins, 4-3
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<p>The <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> jumped out to a 4-0 lead, then held off a rally by the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> for a 4-3 win in the second game of their season-ending series at the Rogers Centre.</p>
<p>Toronto DH <span>Kelly Johnson</span> belted a two-run homer to center field off of Minnesota starter <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> (3-6) in the fourth inning to highlight the offense for the Blue Jays. Swarzak took the loss for the Twins after giving up four runs on five hits and three walks in five innings on the mound.</p>
<p>Toronto starter <span>Chad Jenkins</span> (1-3) earned his first win of the season in just his third start after giving up five hits and two runs in five innings. The Blue Jays bullpen allowed just one more run, a <span>Denard Span</span> solo shot in the sixth, before closer <span>Casey Janssen</span> came on to hold off the Twins rally in the ninth inning and earn his 22nd save of the season.</p>
<p>The two teams will finish the season on Wednesday night when they play the 162nd and final game of the year, starting at 6:07 p.m. CT.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/2/3446894/twins-vs-blue-jays-final-score-toronto-holds-on-for-4-3-win-overTom Lewis2012-10-02T08:42:48-05:002012-10-02T08:42:48-05:00Twins take on Jays on Tuesday night
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<p>It's been a long year for the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a>, but they'll try to end their year with a couple wins against the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> starting on Tuesday, when they send <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> (3-5, 4.51 ERA) to the bump against <span>Chad Jenkins</span> (0-3, 4.67 ERA).</p>
<p><span>Carlos Villanueva</span> was originally slated to start the game for the Blue Jays, but was scratched on Monday over concerns regarding his innings count. Jenkins will be making his third start of the year.</p>
<p><span>Joe Mauer's</span> batting average dropped to .322 on Monday night after going 1-5, which puts him .007 behind Detroit's <span>Miguel Cabrera</span>. At this point, it doesn't seem like Mauer will be able to catch Cabrera or Anaheim's <span>Mike Trout</span> for the AL batting title.</p>
<p>The Twins lineup will be without <span>Josh Willingham</span> for the seventh straight game after he sprained his ankle on Sep. 24. It's unlikely that Willingham will play again this year.</p>
<p>First pitch from Toronto will be at 6:07 p.m. CT. The game can bee seen locally on Fox Sports North.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/2/3442992/twins-vs-blue-jays-previewPeter Berkes2012-10-01T21:53:18-05:002012-10-01T21:53:18-05:00Twins lose series opener 6-5
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<p>The <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> lost 6-5 to Toronto in extra innings on Monday, dropping the first game of their final series of the season.</p>
<p>Minnesota appeared on its way to a win, but <span>Yan Gomes</span> hit a two-out solo home run off <span>Glen Perkins</span> in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game and force extra innings. Minnesota entered the inning with a 5-4 lead and Perkins struck out the first two batters, but Gomes took a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field. <span>Anthony Gose</span> singled in a run off of <span>Brian Duensing</span> in the bottom of the 10th to give Toronto the win.</p>
<p><span>Esmerling Vasquez</span> started the game for Minnesota, allowing three runs over 5⅔ innings. Vasquez left the game leading 4-3 and was in position for the win before Toronto came back in the ninth. Perkins' blown save was his fourth of the season in 20 tries.</p>
<p><span>Trevor Plouffe</span> was the offensive star for the Twins, going 2-3 with three RBI while hitting his 24th home run of the season. <span>Joe Mauer</span>, who is in contention for the American League batting title, went 1-5 and saw his average drop to .322.</p>
<p>The series will continue Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2012/10/1/3441584/twins-vs-blue-jays-final-scoreMark Sandritter2012-10-01T07:02:08-05:002012-10-01T07:02:08-05:00Twins close out 2012 with 3-game set in Toronto
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<figcaption>Jason Miller - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Minnesota Twins begin a series with the Toronto Blue Jays Monday in the final three games of a dismal 2012 season.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a>' dreadful 2012 campaign is nearing an end, as they head to Toronto Monday to finish off their season with a three-game set with the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blue Jays</a>.</p>
<p>The Twins are 66-93, the worst record in the AL. Their attempt at spoiling the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a>' playoff chances this past weekend ended with another series loss and the division title all but clinched for Detroit.</p>
<p><span>Esmerling Vasquez</span> (0-2, 5.88 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota, looking to finish the season strong. Vasquez has yet to win this season but threw a quality start against the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a> his last time out, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings of work.</p>
<p>For Toronto, <span>Aaron Laffey</span> (2-4, 4.86 ERA) gets the start, looking to build upon a scoreless outing against the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Baltimore Orioles</a> in his last start. Laffey's win on Sept. 25 was his first since Aug. 5, snapping an eight-start losing streak.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/10/1/3435514/twins-vs-blue-jays-previewJack Cassidy