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Slowey, Morneau lift Twins over Nationals

Jun 19, 2008 - 4:18 AM By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Kevin Slowey became one of many Minnesota Twins pitchers victimized by the Chicago White Sox in the midst of a six-game losing streak earlier this month that saw Minnesota fall a season-low three games below .500.

On the advice of his coaches, Slowey didn't change anything, which has worked in his favor in two straight strong outings, including his first home win of the season as the Twins routed the Washington Nationals, 11-2, on Wednesday at the Metrodome.

Justin Morneau had three RBI in support of Slowey and Minnesota put up eight runs in the final two innings against Washington's bullpen to pull back to .500 and give the Twins their fourth victory in their last five games.

"After that series in Chicago, (pitching coach Rick Anderson and manager Ron Gardenhire) were very quick to bring together the pitching staff and say, 'Look guys, don't think you have to make any major adjustments. We ran into a team that hit every pitcher, hit every pitch, hit every location. Keep doing what you're doing to get guys out and it's going to work,'" Slowey said. "They are big proponents of sticking with what works.

"I think that's the thing, a lot of young pitchers will have to go through some tough outings and just learn from them."

Slowey (4-6) flirted with plenty of danger, allowing seven hits and two walks in six-plus innings. But his only blemish was a solo home run from Felipe Lopez to lead off the fifth inning.

"He didn't hit his spots as well as he has, but that's a sign of maturing (and) being able to pitch around some tough spots and not ever get beat by the big inning," Gardenhire said. "He made some pitches when he had to, got out of some jams that he created himself pretty much, and that's a good sign."

Nationals starter Jason Bergmann (1-5) had a good night as well, but got no help from his offense or bullpen and once again was victimized by his defense, allowing three runs - one earned - on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Bergmann has give up 17 runs in his last three outings, but only 10 have been earned as he fell to 0-4 in his last six starts.

"It's my job to pick up guys too," Bergmann said. "They are going to pick me up at certain times. It's a long season. You can't get frustrated by that."

Washington manager Manny Acta refused to get frustrated by his defense, offense and bullpen, which allowed a combined eight runs on eight hits with two walks in the final two innings. Before the bottom of the seventh inning, the Nationals still were in the hunt for their fourth victory in five games.

The game would have been even tighter had Washington not picked up costly errors in the first two innings.

The problems started immediately in the first inning for the Nationals. Aaron Boone's throw to Paul Lo Duca at first base on a bunt from Carlos Gomez tipped off Lo Duca's glove and into right field, allowing Gomez to reach second base. Alexi Casilla's bunt moved Gomez on third base and he scored an unearned run on Morneau's sacrifice fly two batters later.

Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher sandwiched Young's flyout with singles to start the second inning before Brendan Harris hit a double off the baggie in right-center field. Kubel scored from third base and Buscher came around from first base to score after Nationals center fielder Lastings Milledge slipped trying to pick up the ball.

The Twins managed just one hit in the next four innings off of Bergmann, but the damage was done with the league's worst offense, at 3.7 runs per game, supporting him.

"Obviously we're not able to score enough runs, but this is the offense we have," Acta said. "We've got all these young guys, we're going to be patient when they don't do anything like tonight and we're going to enjoy it when they do stuff and we win ballgames."

Washington stranded a pair of baserunners in the fifth and sixth inning against Slowey and left the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. The Nationals stranded 12 baserunners in all.

Minnesota's offense heated up in the bottom of the seventh inning with Morneau's RBI single and Kubel's sacrifice fly off reliever Saul Rivera. The floodgates opened in the eighth.



Gomez and Morneau both hit RBI singles off Jesus Colome after Harris led off the frame with a triple. Following back-to-back walks to end Colome's night, Brian Sanches gave up back-to-back, two-RBI doubles to Delmon Young and Buscher.

"It had the feel of (Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Washington) where it could end up 3-1, then boom, I turn around and out of nowhere it was 11-1," Harris said. "We strung some hits together, we got a couple walks. That always helps out."



Milledge drove in Washington's final run in the ninth inning off Boof Bonser.