The Twins have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 0.0 runs during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 0.0 runs per game.
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Sano and Joe Mauer each had three hits, and Mauer extended his on-base streak to 25 games. He went 4.0 innings into the game and allowed only one run on four hits and three walks.
Following the sweep, the Tigers head to Cleveland for a three-game series against the Indians.
The calendar turning over wasn’t enough for the Twins to pull out a win today.
“And as a team”, he added, “we’re not doing very well”. “We go into an off day feeling pretty good about ourselves”.
With two outs and two runners on in the top of the sixth, Nick Castellanos hit a three-run homer off Nolasco to tie up the game.
“We’re playing really well, but it’s not like we’re going to walk into Cleveland and they’re going to hand us the series”, Castellanos said. That ended in the second inning Sunday when Castellanos hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Victor Martinez. J.D. Martinez bluffed for the plate, drawing a throw from Mark Canha, but the ball was cut off by Chris Coghlan when Cabrera started jogging to second. Justin Wilson worked a scoreless eighth and Francisco Rodriguez converted his seventh save in eight opportunities.
When the Detroit Tigers signed free agent pitcher Mike Pelfrey to a two-year, $16 million contract last December, there was reason to believe that he could fill the fourth starter’s role in their rebooted starting pitching rotation.
“He got a little exhausted at the end, ” manager Brad Ausmus said. He allowed two runs and three hits while striking out nine, but walked seven – one shy of his big league high. “I’m throwing strikes. When I do fall behind I feel like I can come back with the off-speed pitches over the fastball”, Zimmermann said. Fulmer made an impressive debut Friday, limiting the Twins to two runs on five hits in five innings, and earning his first career win.
It’s been a rough start to the season for the 32-year-old and Sunday was the latest example. Zimmermann knew he would be joining a team with a high-octane offense, though he hasn’t relied on the Tigers’ bats much yet. The catcher has been sidelined since April 11 by a right ankle sprain.
Twins GM Terry Ryan said 3B Trevor Plouffe (right intercostal strain) was OK after playing nine innings Saturday and was set to play again for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.
“It just seems relentless”, Conforto said. “He gets in some bad counts at times, ” Melvin said.
Since Verlander has been with the Tigers, he has pitched on Opening Day in 2008 through 2014. Against Minnesota, the hitters were able to make adjustments the second time they saw him, and he needed 93 pitches to get through his five innings.
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Detroit (11-10) has had their struggles this season too, outside of games started by Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 0.35 ERA). In five starts in April, he amassed a 5-0 record, 0.55 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.
