Slowey wins his 10th game, Twins beat Astros 5-2

[June 20, 2009]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Slowey became the second 10-game winner in the majors, and the Minnesota Twins went back to small ball Friday to beat Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros 5-2.

Slowey (10-2) didn't have his usual control during his six innings, walking Michael Bourn and Lance Berkman twice each to match his career high, but he scattered three singles and surrendered only Bourn's sacrifice fly in the third.

Jeff Keppinger's two-out home run in the eighth against Jose Mijares brought manager Ron Gardenhire out of the dugout to summon Joe Nathan for a rare four-out save, but the three-time All-Star didn't allow a baserunner and the Twins moved above .500 for the first time since May 14.

The last time the Astros played here was 2001, when Oswalt (3-4) was a rookie. In finishing his first complete game of the season, the right-hander gave up 10 hits, five runs and four walks while striking out three. He threw 126 pitches, after five days of rest.

Minnesota and Houston have the top two team batting averages in baseball since May 1, but Slowey did his part to lower Houston's. The Twins have enjoyed a power surge this season, but the effect of their extra home runs has been limited due to the decreased production of their contact hitters at the bottom of the order.

Poor bunting, and a reluctance to try, has been a particular problem - but not on this night.

Delmon Young came home on a squeeze play, thanks to a perfect bunt by Nick Punto that put the Twins up 2-1 in the fifth. Carlos Gomez, who also bunted for a hit in the seventh, sacrificed to get Young to third. Their first run scored on Justin Morneau's sacrifice fly, and all of their rallies were fueled by singles and walks.

Young, who doubled twice but still has only five extra-base hits in 159 at-bats, drove in two runs in the eighth with a two-out line drive that Jason Michaels lost in the lights in left field, staggering back as the ball zipped over his head.

NOTES: LaTroy Hawkins, who capably filled the closer role for Houston while Jose Valverde was hurt, still keeps in touch with a loyal group of Twins fans he met during his days in Minnesota from 1995-2003. They created a club in his honor, in appreciation of the time he was the only player who stopped to sign autographs outside the Metrodome after one game in 1999. They still visit him annually at spring training and maintain a Web site, latroyhawkinsfanclub.org. "They're like family," Hawkins said. ... Twins OF Denard Span is feeling better, shagging flies and taking swings, but Gardenhire said he'd like him to go on a brief rehab assignment before being activated from the DL. He'll be eligible on June 26. ... Injured Astros starters Mike Hampton and Felipe Paulino, both on the DL with groin injuries, are scheduled to throw in the bullpen this weekend. Manager Cecil Cooper said they're making progress.

[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]

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