Final
for this game
Duensing returns to rotation to face Reds
Jun 23, 2012 - 1:46 PMVideo
Duensing has been largely effective as a middle reliever for the Twins this season, pitching to a 3.12 ERA. He has also pitched scoreless outings in seven of his last eight appearances.
The southpaw has plenty of experience as a starter. After an impressive 2010 campaign where he went 10-3 with a 2.62 ERA, he struggled mightily in 2011, going 9-14 with a 5.23 ERA.
Duensing takes the place of P.J. Walters, who was placed on the disabled list this week with a shoulder injury.
The Reds will counter with Johnny Cueto, who's in the midst of another great season with an 8-3 record and a 2.38 ERA.
The right-hander has been especially dominant of late, winning his last three starts -- including a complete game on June 12 and a seven inning, one earned run, eight strikeout performance on June 17.
He will try to win his fourth consecutive start for the first time since he won four in a row in May of 2010.
Cueto has been especially great in afternoon games this year, going 5-0 in seven starts with a microscopic 1.36 ERA.
On Friday night, the Twins held on to defeat the Reds 5-4 in the first game of the series.
Nick Blackburn (4-4) labored through five innings, allowing five hits, two walks, and four earned runs, but still earned the win. The Twins' bullpen pitched four scoreless innings, capped off by Glen Perkins' second save of the year.
The Reds had runners on first and third with one out in the ninth, but ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts from Zack Cozart and Chris Heisey.
"I made the pitches when I had to," Perkins said of his shaky ninth inning. "Sometimes you win ugly."
Both Ben Revere and Ryan Doumit went 4-for-4 in the win. Doumit hit his seventh home run of the season, while Revere stole two bases and had an RBI as well.
Homer Bailey (5-5) took the loss for the Reds, their fourth straight. He allowed eight hits, three walks, and four earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.
Heisey and Scott Rolen both homered for Cincinnati.
- MINNESOTA: 0
CINCINNATI: 6
Final
Jun 23 6:52 PM - Todd Frazier reached first on Trevor Plouffe's fielding error scored Jay Bruce. On the play, Scott Rolen advances to second. Runners on first and second with none out and Ryan Hanigan due up.
Twins 0, Reds 6 Bot 8, 0 OutsJun 23 6:41 PM - Johnny Cueto grounded out short to first scored Scott Rolen. On the play, Ryan Hanigan advances to second and Todd Frazier advances to third. Runners on second and third and with two outs and Zack Cozart due up.
Twins 0, Reds 5 Bot 6, 2 OutsJun 23 6:06 PM - Johnny Cueto sacrifice safety squeeze bunt, pitcher to first, scored Scott Rolen. On the play, Ryan Hanigan advances to second. Runner on second with two outs and Zack Cozart due up.
Twins 0, Reds 4 Bot 4, 2 OutsJun 23 5:28 PM - Scott Rolen doubled to right scored Jay Bruce. On the play, Rolen advances to third on the throw. Runner on third with none out and Todd Frazier due up.
Twins 0, Reds 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsJun 23 5:18 PM - Brandon Phillips none-out, two-run Home Run (10) to center scored Joey Votto. Jay Bruce due up.
Twins 0, Reds 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsJun 23 5:10 PM - MINNESOTA: 0
CINCINNATI: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 23 4:11 PM
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