Read More: Marco Estrada (P – MIL), Scott Diamond (P – MIN), Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers

On Friday night, the Minnesota Twins (12-26) will begin interleague play when the team travels to Milwaukee to open a three-game weekend set against the Brewers (16-22). Although much of this early season has been difficult for the cellar-dwelling Twins, the club will be entering Friday night on the back of an impressive two-game sweep of their division rivals the Detroit Tigers.

Milwaukee has had a rough go of things themselves this year sitting a single game out of last place in the National League’s Central Division. The team will enter Friday night on the back of a two-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five games.

The probable starters for Friday are Scott Diamond for the Twins and Marco Estrada for the Brewers. Diamond is 2-0 in two starts this season and has yet to allow an earned run (or any runs for that matter) in 14 innings pitched. He has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10-1 and has allowed only nine hits this season.

Estrada is 0-2 in nine games played (four of which he started). He has a 4.20 ERA in 30 innings pitched and has a strikeout-to-walks ratio of 27-6.

For more on the Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. For more on the Tigers, check out Bless You Boys. And for the best MLB analysis on the web, be sure to visit Baseball Nation.

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P.J. Walters of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the first inning during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 17, 2012 in Detroit. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

DETROIT — Quick, someone find that game plan in which journeyman pitcher P.J. Walters saves the Twins’ bullpen from ruin, reliever Francisco Liriano delivers in the clutch and Drew Butera goes 3 for 4 to raise his batting average to .350.

Too far-fetched, you say? Well, seeing is believing, and don’t look now, but the Twins are on a winning streak after the unlikeliest of circumstances propelled them to a two-game series sweep of the slumping Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Walters provided a quality start at precisely the right moment for Minnesota while Liriano, the erstwhile starter banished to the bullpen to rebuild his confidence, led another shutdown performance by relievers as the Twins defeated the Tigers 4-3 on Thursday, May 17.

They swiped two from the defending American League Central Division champs to win consecutive games for the first time since April 11-12. It was that kind of game on a sun-splashed afternoon in the Motor City.

Butera matched his career high of three hits. And Walters won his first start since Sept. 29, 2010, against Pittsburgh, when he was pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.

See, just like the Twins designed it coming out of spring training.

“It’s about winning baseball games. This is a great team,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of the Tigers. “You come in here and win a couple ballgames and go toe to toe against them, it’s a good feeling. There’s some confidence coming through this clubhouse. It’s pretty

fun.”

The victory gives Minnesota (12-26) some momentum on its eight-game trip entering interleague play, with three games this weekend against the Brewers in Milwaukee. But Walters’ outing had more practical benefits.

The bullpen needed a break after starter Nick Blackburn left Wednesday’s win after two innings because of a strained quadriceps that landed him on the disabled list. Entering play Thursday, Twins starters had averaged only 5.24 innings per outing, and their longevity ranked 28th among 30 teams.

They needed Walters to eat innings, and he obliged, limiting the Tigers to four hits over 61/3. He gave up solo home runs to Brennan Boesch, Andy Dirks and Prince Fielder before allowing two runners to reach in the seventh.

“I don’t like to give up home runs, but the offense gave me some room to work with,” said Walters, 1-1 with a 3.65 earned-run average in two starts for the Twins. “They picked me up there those last couple innings.”

Walters yielded to Liriano, who made his second relief appearance since being demoted two weeks ago.

Liriano induced pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago to hit a comebacker, which he turned into an inning-ending double play. It was a minor success but a big deal for those trying to

The Minnesota Twins’ Francisco Liriano pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Twins defeated the Tigers 4-3. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

prevent Liriano from totally flaming out after going 0-5 with an ERA over 11.00.

“The young man can pitch,” Gardenhire said. “He has some success doing things like that in big situations; I think that’s going to boost his confidence, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We need outs. We need wins, and we need to get him going.”

In the eighth, Glen Perkins came in and walked the first two batters on nine pitches. After falling behind 2-0 to Fielder, Butera and pitching coach Rick Anderson visited the mound for some blunt talk.

“I was like, ‘Hey, no big deal. Just go right after him.’ That’s what Andy said,” Butera said. “What’s done is done. Let’s go after him right here. We’re a couple pitches away from getting out of the inning.”

Perkins settled down to strike out Fielder swinging and got Delmon Young to ground into another inning-ending double play.

“That was huge,” Butera said. “Our pitching staff from P.J. all the way through the bullpen was outstanding.”

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That’s all for today.

CBSSports.com wire reports
May 17, 2012

DETROIT — After a home run by one of his best hitters and strong effort from the bullpen, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire was in good spirits in his office.

The Twins have little time to waste if they want to avoid another lost season, but sweeping two games in Detroit against the defending AL Central champions was a small step in the right direction.

“We had some good things happen – a good couple of wins here,” Gardenhire said. “This is a great team. This is the team everybody’s picked to win this division, and you come in here and you win a couple of ballgames against them, and you go toe to toe with them. It’s a good feeling. It’s something we can kind of build off of.”

Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer in his second game back from a wrist injury, and the Twins held on for a 4-3 victory over the Tigers on Thursday in the finale of a two-game series. Minnesota jumped ahead 4-0 and held on through some tense moments in the late innings.

P.J. Walters (1-1) allowed four hits — including three solo homers — in 6 1/3 innings for the Twins, who have won two in a row for only the second time this season. They’re 12-26 in 2012 after losing 99 games last year.

Morneau’s homer off Doug Fister (0-2) opened the scoring in the third, and Trevor Plouffe followed with a long ball. Minnesota added another run in the fifth before the Tigers came back with homers by Brennan Boesch, Andy Dirks and Prince Fielder.

“I don’t like to give up home runs, but the offense gave me a little room to work with there, so it didn’t hurt us,” Walters said.

Three relievers finished for the Twins, with Matt Capps pitching a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

Francisco Liriano came on with two on and one out in the seventh and got pinch-hitter Ramon Santiago to hit into a double play. Glen Perkins walked the first two Detroit hitters in the eighth on nine pitches, but he struck out Fielder, and Delmon Young hit into a double play to end that inning.

“The only thing that has been consistent for this team is the inconsistency, and that’s mind boggling to me,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We just aren’t putting together the combinations that we need to win.”

The Tigers were hoping for a strong start from Fister after allowing 19 runs in their previous two games against the Twins and Chicago White Sox, but the Detroit right-hander was in trouble from the start.

Minnesota left the bases loaded in the first, and Fister got out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the second after he stepped toward third and threw back to first to catch Jamey Carroll off base for the second out of the inning.

With two outs in the third, Morneau and Plouffe hit back-to-back homers. Morneau’s opposite-field shot was his fifth homer of the year and first since coming off the disabled list. He returned to the lineup Wednesday night after being on the DL since May 1 with a sore left wrist.

“Him driving the ball the other way is huge,” Gardenhire said. “He starts getting a little pull happy at times, and if he’s staying on the ball like that and gets the barrel on it, that’s all he has to do is put a nice swing on the ball.”

Fister, who missed most of April with a left side strain, hadn’t allowed a run at Comerica Park since Aug. 30.

Minnesota added a crucial run in the fifth after Fielder failed to catch Fister’s throw to first on Josh Willingham’s tapper. Willingham went all the way to third on the play, and Morneau drove him home with a groundball.

Fister allowed four runs — three earned — and nine hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.

Boesch’s homer in the bottom of the inning was Detroit’s first hit off Walters. Dirks and Fielder added solo shots of their own in the sixth.

Notes

Boesch extended his hitting streak to 10 games. … Detroit RHP Luis Marte (left hamstring strain) has been assigned to Class A Lakeland as part of an injury rehabilitation assignment. … Detroit sends Justin Verlander (4-1) to the mound Friday to start a three-game series against Pittsburgh. Charlie Morton (2-3) starts for the Pirates. … The Twins are at Milwaukee. Scott Diamond (2-0) will start for Minnesota on Friday against Marco Estrada (0-2).

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CBSSports.com wire reports
May 13, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Diamond has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 ERA, the worst in baseball.

Called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defense came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.” Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control. “Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down. This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in Spring Training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said. “They have major league stuff.”

Toronto starter Ricky Romero (4-1) allowed nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, walked five and did not strike out a batter for the first time in 101 career starts. He threw only 51 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He has just one win in his past four outings.

“It’s mechanics,” he said. “I’m rushing through my delivery. I worked on it all week. This game just tests you sometimes mentally. You just got to stay mentally strong and just continue to work.”

Dozier, the Twins’ 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

“We faced a very good pitcher, Romero’s going to make you work,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “We made him work pretty hard and we got his pitch, so it says a lot about the way we had at-bats, we made him throw pitches, but we couldn’t finish him off. We had an opportunity to open it up.”

That lack of timely hitting nearly cost the Twins as Toronto scored three times in the eighth inning.

After RBI singles by Escobar and Eric Thames, another run scored on a wild pitch by Glen Perkins. But Brett Lawrie grounded out with the tying run on third.

“We got a bunch of fighters. We don’t give up until the last out,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we came up on the wrong side.”

The rough start has put Minnesota in a deep hole early, but Dozier isn’t concerned.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Dozier said. “We’ll get things going.”

Notes

• Toronto turned two double plays for a league-best 45.
• Davis had two of Toronto’s four stolen bases.
• Minnesota’s Trevor Plouffe ended a 0-for-11 skid with a seventh-inning double.
• Minnesota opens a two-game homestand against Cleveland on Monday. Carl Pavano (2-3, 5.02 ERA) will take the hill for the Twins against Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 4.66). Pavano said Sunday he recently had an MRI that revealed a strained shoulder, but that he’s good for Monday.
• Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27) is scheduled to start Monday when the Blue Jays return home to face Tampa Bay and Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48).

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Scott Diamond has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 ERA, the worst in baseball.

Called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defense came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.”

Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control.

“Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down,” he said. “This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in Spring Training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said.

“They have major league stuff.”

Toronto starter Ricky Romero (4-1) allowed nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, walked five and did not strike out a batter for the first time in 101 career starts. He threw only 51 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He has just one win in his past four outings.

“It’s mechanics,” he said. “I’m rushing through my delivery. I worked on it all week. This game just tests you sometimes mentally. You just got to stay mentally strong and just continue to work.”

Dozier, the Twins’ 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

“We faced a very good pitcher, Romero’s going to make you work,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “We made him work pretty hard and we got his pitch, so it says a lot about the way we had at-bats, we made him throw pitches, but we couldn’t finish him off. We had an opportunity to open it up.”

That lack of timely hitting nearly cost the Twins as Toronto scored three times in the eighth inning.

After RBI singles by Escobar and Eric Thames, another run scored on a wild pitch by Glen Perkins. But Brett Lawrie grounded out with the tying run on third.

“We got a bunch of fighters. We don’t give up until the last out,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we came up on the wrong side.”

The rough start has put Minnesota in a deep hole early, but Dozier isn’t concerned.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Dozier said. “We’ll get things going.”

Notes

Toronto turned two double plays for a league-best 45. … Davis had two of Toronto’s four stolen bases. … Minnesota’s Trevor Plouffe ended a 0-for-11 skid with a seventh-inning double. … Minnesota opens a two-game homestand against Cleveland on Monday. Carl Pavano (2-3, 5.02 ERA) will take the hill for the Twins against Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 4.66). Pavano said Sunday he recently had an MRI that revealed a strained shoulder, but that he’s good for Monday. … Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27) is scheduled to start Monday when the Blue Jays return home to face Tampa Bay and Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48).

That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

MINNEAPOLIS – Scott Diamond has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 ERA, the worst in baseball.

Called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defense came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.” Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control. “Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down. This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in Spring Training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said. “They have major league stuff.”

Dozier, the Twins’ 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

Toronto Minnesota

ab r h bi ab r h bi

KJhnsn 2b 5 1 1 0 Span cf 4 1 1 0

YEscor ss 4 1 1 1 Dozier ss 5 2 2 1

Bautist rf 4 0 1 0 Mauer 1b 2 1 1 0

Encrnc 1b 4 0 3 0 Wlngh lf 3 0 0 1

BFrncs dh 3 0 0 0 Doumit dh 4 0 2 2

Thams ph-dh 1 0 0 1 Plouffe 3b 3 0 1 0

Lawrie 3b 4 0 1 0 Komats rf 3 0 1 0

Rasms cf 4 0 0 0 Butera c 3 0 0 0

Arencii c 4 0 1 0 JCarrll 2b 4 0 2 0

Mathis pr 0 0 0 0

RDavis lf 3 1 2 0

Lind ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 37 3 10 2 Totals 31 4 10 4

Toronto 000 000 030— 3

Minnesota 001 030 00x— 4

E—R.Davis (1), Plouffe (3). DP—Toronto 3, Minnesota 1. LOB—Toronto 7, Minnesota 11. 2B—Encarnacion (9), Mauer (7), Plouffe (2). HR—Dozier (1). SB—Encarnacion (6), Lawrie (4), R.Davis 2 (5), J.Carroll (4).

IP H R ER BB SO

Toronto

R.Romero L,4-1 5Zc 9 4 4 5 0

Carreno 1Xc 1 0 0 3 0

Oliver 1 0 0 0 0 0

Minnesota

Diamond W,2-0 7 5 0 0 0 4

Burton Zc 4 3 3 0 0

Perkins H,4 Xc 0 0 0 0 0

Capps S,7-7 1 1 0 0 0 1

WP—Perkins. PB—Arencibia.

T—2:59. A—36,889 (39,500

Tags:
sports, twins, baseball, updates

Not much else going on in the MLB planet today.

Date: Sunday May. 13, 2012 7:30 PM ET

What are your opinions.

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Diamond has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond, from Guelph, pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 earned-run average, the worst in baseball.

Called up from triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defence came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.” Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control. “Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down. This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in spring training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said. “They have major league stuff.”

Toronto starter Ricky Romero (4-1) allowed nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, walked five and did not strike out a batter for the first time in 101 career starts. He threw only 51 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He has just one win in his past four outings.

“It’s mechanics,” he said. “I’m rushing through my delivery. I worked on it all week. This game just tests you sometimes mentally. You just got to stay mentally strong and just continue to work.”

Dozier, the Twins’ 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

“We faced a very good pitcher, Romero’s going to make you work,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “We made him work pretty hard and we got his pitch, so it says a lot about the way we had at-bats, we made him throw pitches, but we couldn’t finish him off. We had an opportunity to open it up.”

That lack of timely hitting nearly cost the Twins as Toronto scored three times in the eighth inning.

After RBI singles by Escobar and Eric Thames, another run scored on a wild pitch by Glen Perkins. But Brett Lawrie grounded out with the tying run on third.

“We got a bunch of fighters. We don’t give up until the last out,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we came up on the wrong side.”

The rough start has put Minnesota in a deep hole early, but Dozier isn’t concerned.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Dozier said. “We’ll get things going.”

If you like reading our blog, remember to bookmark it.

Scott Diamond of Guelph, Ont., has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 ERA, the worst in baseball.

Called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defense came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.” Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control.

“Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down. This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in Spring Training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said. “They have major league stuff.”

Toronto starter Ricky Romero (4-1) allowed nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, walked five and did not strike out a batter for the first time in 101 career starts. He threw only 51 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He has just one win in his past four outings.

“It’s mechanics,” he said. “I’m rushing through my delivery. I worked on it all week. This game just tests you sometimes mentally. You just got to stay mentally strong and just continue to work.”

Dozier, the team’s 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

“We faced a very good pitcher, Romero’s going to make you work,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “We made him work pretty hard and we got his pitch, so it says a lot about the way we had at-bats, we made him throw pitches, but we couldn’t finish him off. We had an opportunity to open it up.”

That lack of timely hitting nearly cost the Twins as Toronto scored three times in the eighth inning.

After RBI singles by Escobar and Eric Thames, another run scored on a wild pitch by Glen Perkins. But Brett Lawrie grounded out with the tying run on third.

“We got a bunch of fighters. We don’t give up until the last out,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we came up on the wrong side.”

The rough start has put Minnesota in a deep hole early, but Dozier isn’t concerned.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Dozier said. “We’ll get things going.”

Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27) is scheduled to start Monday when the Blue Jays return home to face Tampa Bay and Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48).

There is the quick update of the day.

MINNEAPOLIS Scott Diamond has been with the Minnesota Twins for less than a week, and he already has accounted for one-fifth of the team’s wins.

Diamond, from Guelph, Ont., pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Sunday.

Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins by splitting the four-game series. Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.

Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed its road trip at 5-5.

Diamond (2-0) has given the Twins the type of starting pitching that has been sorely lacking for most of the season. Minnesota starters entered the game with a collective 6.57 earned-run average, the worst in baseball.

Called up from triple-A Rochester on Monday, he threw seven shutout innings Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Just as he did then, Diamond worked ahead in the count, moved the ball in and out and primarily kept the ball down in the zone. He allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.

“I was getting hit hard, but our defence came up big for me,” he said. “I’m not a strikeout guy, so I just want them to keep hitting the ball in play and we were able to get some outs.” Diamond was hit with a line drive on his pitching shoulder in the second inning, but he kept stretching in the dugout between innings.

Last year, Diamond was 1-5 in seven starts for the Twins. This year he’s more relaxed, taking things simpler and is focusing on the batter rather than letting things get out of control. “Taking a couple of deep breaths on the mound has got me back to settling down. This year it’s more about getting back, getting wins, and helping this team out in whatever way I could.”

P.J. Walters allowed two runs in six hits taking Saturday’s 2-1 loss, but maybe the young guns are what the Twins need now.

“They competed in spring training, and they went down and worked on some things and we had starters here,” catcher Drew Butera said. “They have major league stuff.”

Toronto starter Ricky Romero (4-1) allowed nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, walked five and did not strike out a batter for the first time in 101 career starts. He threw only 51 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He has just one win in his past four outings.

“It’s mechanics,” he said. “I’m rushing through my delivery. I worked on it all week. This game just tests you sometimes mentally. You just got to stay mentally strong and just continue to work.”

Dozier, the Twins’ 2011 minor leaguer of the year who was also called up Monday, homered in the third for a 1-0 lead before the patient Twins scored three times in the fifth.

Denard Span and Dozier singled before Joe Mauer walked to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham walked and Doumit followed with a two-run single up the middle. It was Minnesota’s only hit with runners in scoring position over its past 19 opportunities.

“We faced a very good pitcher, Romero’s going to make you work,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “We made him work pretty hard and we got his pitch, so it says a lot about the way we had at-bats, we made him throw pitches, but we couldn’t finish him off. We had an opportunity to open it up.”

That lack of timely hitting nearly cost the Twins as Toronto scored three times in the eighth inning.

After RBI singles by Escobar and Eric Thames, another run scored on a wild pitch by Glen Perkins. But Brett Lawrie grounded out with the tying run on third.

“We got a bunch of fighters. We don’t give up until the last out,” Davis said. “Unfortunately we came up on the wrong side.”

The rough start has put Minnesota in a deep hole early, but Dozier isn’t concerned.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Dozier said. “We’ll get things going.”

NOTES: Toronto turned two double plays for a league-best 45. … Davis had two of Toronto’s four stolen bases. … Minnesota’s Trevor Plouffe ended a 0-for-11 skid with a seventh-inning double. … Minnesota opens a two-game homestand against Cleveland on Monday. Carl Pavano (2-3, 5.02 ERA) will take the hill for the Twins against Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 4.66). Pavano said Sunday he recently had an MRI that revealed a strained shoulder, but that he’s good for Monday. … Brandon Morrow (4-1, 2.27) is scheduled to start Monday when the Blue Jays return home to face Tampa Bay and Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.48).

The Associated Press

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