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Blackburn blanks Tigers as Twins take series

Jul 2, 2008 - 10:41 PM By Jon Avise PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Nick Blackburn pitched seven outstanding innings, Joe Mauer drove in two runs with a pair of singles and the Minnesota Twins pounded out 14 hits for the second straight day to pick up a 7-0 victory Wednesday over the Detroit Tigers in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Blackburn (7-4), a rookie, allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out four in a near-spotless performance and got all the support he needed during a third-inning hit parade by the Twins.

Relievers Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser combined to complete the shutout, marking the 10th time Detroit has been blanked this season.

"We didn't swing the bat worth (a darn) today," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Minnesota has won two straight, three of four and 13 of its last 15 games to move a season-high nine games above the .500 mark (47-38).

"You beat these guys two out of three, it's a good thing," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're playing good baseball; it's fun baseball."

Minnesota sent 11 batters to the plate in the third against Tigers starter Eddie Bonine (2-1). The Twins collected five runs and five hits with two outs in the inning, a rally sparked by Mauer's two-run single that plated Denard Span and Carlos Gomez.

Bonine, making his fourth career start, nearly escaped the third when he induced the next hitter, slugger Justin Morneau, to bounce to third. But Carlos Guillen's fielding error opened the door for further damage.

The Twins took advantage as Jason Kubel, Delmon Young and Brian Buscher followed with RBI base hits that opened a 5-0 cushion.

"Putting up runs like that will help you relax," Blackburn said. "The guys were making plays behind me that were unbelievable."

Blackburn cruised, allowing just one hit over his final four innings, and Minnesota tacked on two more to put the afternoon contest further out of the Tigers' grasp.

Nick Punto singled home Young in the fifth and Casilla produced a run-scoring groundout in the sixth.

"We're in the midst of a little pennant race," Punto said "It's July, but it's a pennant race. We're taking the pressure and running with it."

Casilla singled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.