|
Delmon Young's two-run homer and Carlos Gomez's RBI triple highlighted an impressive revival by the Twins against the previously surging Sheets (9-2), hours after their 10-game winning streak ended. The Twins were held to a pair of hits over seven innings against Milwaukee starter Manny Parra in a 5-1 loss Saturday night.
Jason Kubel and Alexi Casilla also drove in runs for Minnesota, which finished a majors-best 14-4 over the interleague portion of the schedule thanks to Slowey's first career shutout
-- and second complete game.
The right-hander retired the first 10 batters he faced and struck out eight. The only trouble he had was a fourth-inning double by J.J. Hardy, who moved to third on a groundout by Ryan Braun. But Slowey (5-6) blew a fastball by Prince Fielder to end the threat, just as he did with nobody on for the second out of the seventh. He pumped his fist on the follow-through and returned to the mound to retire the last seven Brewers after a harmless single by Corey Hart.
In his last four appearances, Slowey has pitched 29 innings and allowed only three runs with two walks
-- none on Sunday -- while winning three of those starts.
The Twins ended the first two innings by hitting into double plays. Second baseman Rickie Weeks nimbly ran to his right to snag a sharp line drive by Joe Mauer in the first and double off Casilla, who was moving with the pitch.
Against an ace like Sheets, wasting early chances is not the way to win. But it didn't hurt them at all.
Kubel drove in Mauer after a two-out double in the fourth, and Brian Buscher started a rally in the fifth with a leadoff single
-- eventually scoring on Gomez's drive down the left-field line that Braun didn't play well in the corner.
Then came the big blow by Young, who has only two homers this year, following a two-out walk to Kubel. Even little-used Mike Lamb, who lost his job at third base to Buscher earlier this month, singled in the seventh and scored on Casilla's double.
Hart made a diving attempt to catch that ball, but he lost control of it as he fell to the turf in right field.
Notes: The Twins placed RF Michael Cuddyer (strained tendon in left index finger) on the 15-day DL during the game and will recall Denard Span from Triple-A Rochester to take his place on Monday. ... Sheets lost for the first time in eight starts.
[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
|
