Final
Indians-Twins Preview
Jun 2, 2009 - 6:06 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS WriterCleveland (22-31) at Minnesota (25-27), 8:10 p.m. EDT
Banged up and struggling on the road, the Minnesota Twins hope a brief return home along with another strong outing from Kevin Slowey can create some momentum ahead of their next trip.
Slowey looks to win his third consecutive start and fourth straight decision as the Twins begin a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.
The Twins (25-27) needed Monday off to get some players healthy after snapping a three-game win streak with a 3-2 victory Sunday at Tampa Bay that improved their road record - the worst in the majors - to 6-16. Michael Cuddyer is day-to-day with a strained index finger suffered in the victory, and Minnesota is already without Joe Crede (knee) and Nick Punto (groin). Joe Mauer did not play Sunday after fouling a ball off his right leg Saturday, and Mike Redmond couldn't come out of Sunday's game after taking a stinger off his left wrist.
"Injuries are injuries and I don't know if it's something that one day off is going to help for some guys," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official Web site. "But hopefully it does and we come back on Tuesday and can field a team."
Home has been a steady salve of late for the Twins, who have won eight of their last 10 at the Metrodome. Slowey (7-1, 4.11 ERA) - trying to become just the third pitcher in the majors with eight wins - has been effective there, going 6-0 with a 4.64 ERA in seven starts while getting an average of 10.13 runs of support.
He allowed two runs in six innings of a 4-2 win over Boston on Wednesday and also limited the Indians to one run in eight innings of a 7-1 victory on April 25.
Minnesota embarks on a 10-game road trip after this series.
Cleveland can empathize with Minnesota's mounting injury list. The Indians have eight players on the disabled list and only Tampa Bay with nine has more. On Monday, reliever Rafael Betancourt (right groin strain) was placed on the DL, one day after Grady Sizemore was for an inflamed left elbow that may require surgery if rest does not reduce the pain.
After winning seven of nine, Cleveland comes in after losing three of four with the New York Yankees, including a 5-2 loss Monday. Victor Martinez hit a solo homer, but the Indians issued 11 walks - four by reliever Greg Aquino over 1 1-3 innings.
"We just gave it to them," manager Eric Wedge said. "I'm shocked they didn't score more runs."
The Indians will hand the ball to rookie left-hander David Huff (0-1, 10.97). Huff allowed 13 runs in 6 2-3 innings of his first two career starts, but pitched well Thursday against the Rays, allowing four hits over four scoreless innings of a 2-1 victory. His start was cut short after a rain delay.
The Twins took two of three in Cleveland on April 24-26, and have won seven of their last eight over the Indians at the Metrodome.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 9 1
MINNESOTA 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 x 4 10 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: CLE - DAVID HUFF, TONY SIPP (6TH), GREG AQUINO (8TH) AND KELLY
SHOPPACH
MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), JOSE MIJARES
(8TH), JOE NATHAN (8TH) AND JOE MAUER
Jun 2 11:11 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY VICTOR MARTINEZ (9) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 8TH OFF JOSE MIJARES.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 3, MINNESOTA 4
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: S CHOO (.301, 1-FOR-3)
Guardians 3, Twins 4 Top 8, 0 OutsJun 2 10:37 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KELLY SHOPPACH SCORED LUIS VALBUENA AND TREVOR
CROWE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, K SHOPPACH ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
MINNESOTA 4 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J CARROLL (.278, 0-FOR-2)
Guardians 2, Twins 4 Top 7, 0 OutsJun 2 10:12 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JOE MAUER (12) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF DAVID HUFF SCORED DENARD SPAN.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0, MINNESOTA 4
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.343, 1-FOR-2)
Guardians 0, Twins 4 Bot 5, 0 OutsJun 2 9:49 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOE MAUER SCORED DENARD SPAN.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J MAUER ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.340, 0-FOR-1)
Guardians 0, Twins 2 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 2 9:08 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DENARD SPAN SCORED ALEXI CASILLA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D SPAN ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.420, 1-FOR-1)
Guardians 0, Twins 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 2 9:05 PM
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