Jul 5, 2008 - 9:02 AM
0 shoutsCleveland (37-49) at Minnesota (48-38) 7:10 pm ET
MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It wasn't long ago the Minnesota Twins appeared to be an also-ran in the American League. Now, they are one of the hottest teams in baseball.
The Twins go for their 15th win in 17 games on Saturday when they continue their three-game set against the Cleveland Indians.
On June 15, Minnesota found itself two games under at 33-35 following a 3-7 road trip, which left the team 4 1/2 games out of first place in the division.
Since that day, however, the Twins have rolled to a 13-3 record, including one winning streak of 10 games. Much of that run has come at the Metrodome, where they have won 11 of 13. During their 16-run rampage, the Twins have received solid production from their pitching staff, which has posted a 2.31 ERA in that time.
Perhaps no pitcher has been more indicative of that success than Kevin Slowey (5-6, 3.47 ERA), who is 3-0 over his last four starts and riding a scoreless streak of 17 innings. Since starting the season 0-4 with a 5.49 ERA, Slowey has rebounded nicely over his last eight starts, going 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA.
The righthander turned in perhaps the finest start of his career in his last outing, allowing just three hits and striking out eight to post his first career shutout in Sunday's 5-0 triumph over Milwaukee.
He will be opposed by Aaron Laffey (4-5, 3.24), who will try to end his road woes, where he is 0-2 with a 5.47 ERA. In Sunday's 9-5 interleague home setback to Cincinnati, the lefthander surrendered five runs and eight hits over five frames to drop his second straight decision.
From the Bleachers
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CLEVELAND: 6
MINNESOTA: 9
Final
Jul 5 10:16 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JAMEY CARROLL SCORED KELLY SHOPPACH.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J CARROLL ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 6
MINNESOTA 9 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: B FRANCISCO (.274, 0-FOR-3)
Jul 5 9:34 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRENDAN HARRIS SCORED JOE MAUER AND JUSTIN
MORNEAU.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5
MINNESOTA 9 END BOTTOM, 6TH
Jul 5 9:20 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY RAFAEL PEREZ ALLOWED ALEXI CASILLA TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, J MAUER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5
MINNESOTA 7 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: C MONROE (.222, 1-FOR-2, BB, 2 RBI)
Jul 5 9:13 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY ALEXI CASILLA SCORED DENARD SPAN AND CARLOS
GOMEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A CASILLA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5
MINNESOTA 6 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.326, 1-FOR-1, 2 BB, HR, RBI)
Jul 5 9:06 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JOE MAUER (4) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT IN THE
5TH OFF AARON LAFFEY.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5, MINNESOTA 4
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.312, 0-FOR-1, HBP)
Jul 5 8:42 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DENARD SPAN SCORED NICK PUNTO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D SPAN ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5
MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 4TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: C GOMEZ (.269, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 5 8:32 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY GRADY SIZEMORE (22) TO RIGHT CENTER
WITH 1 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF KEVIN SLOWEY SCORED KELLY SHOPPACH AND ANDY
MARTE.
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 5, MINNESOTA 2
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J CARROLL (.276, 0-FOR-1)
Jul 5 7:40 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ANDY MARTE SCORED DAVID DELLUCCI.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A MARTE ON FIRST, K SHOPPACH ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 2
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.267, 1-FOR-1)
Jul 5 7:36 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY DAVID DELLUCCI SCORED SHIN-SOO CHOO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D DELLUCCI ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.264, 7 HR, 20 RBI)
Jul 5 7:32 PM -
AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CRAIG MONROE SCORED JOE MAUER AND JUSTIN MORNEAU.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C MONROE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D YOUNG (.289, 3 HR, 33 RBI)
Jul 5 7:25 PM
