Alex Burnett

The Twins lost 7-3 in 10 innings at home to Tampa Bay and were sweep away in the 3-game series by the Rays. Tampa Bay scored 4 runs in the 10th inning. Alex Burnett allowed 1 hit, 2 walks and 3 earned runs in 2/3 of an inning to take the loss for the Twins. Jeff Keppinger drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout in the 10th inning. Scott Diamond started the game for the Twins and threw 7 innings with 8 hits and 3 earned runs allowed.

Joe Mauer hit a 3-run homerun in the 9th inning off Boston closer Alfredo Aceves to lift the Twins to a 6-4 win over the Red Sox Saturday night. Minnesota score 4 runs off Aceves in the 9th inning. Ben Revere was 3-5 with a run scored and Jamie Carroll was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI for the Twins. Cole DeVries threw 7 innings with 4 hits and 2 earned runs allowed. Alex Burnett earned the win in relief and Jared Burton threw a scoreless 9th inning for the save.

The Twins lost 4-3 to Baltimore Thursday afternoon. Minnesota led for much of the day before Baltimore scored 2 runs in the 8th inning. Mark Reynolds had a 2-run single in the 8th inning to give Baltimore the lead. Alex Burnett walked 2 and allowed 2 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning to take the loss. Justin Morneau went 2-4 with a run scored. Josh Willingham had a RBI single and Trevor Plouffe contributed a RBI double for the Twins.

In this installment of “Rebuilding the Twins”, we will take a look at the Twins bullpen. The bullpen was a very glaring weakness for the Twins last season. The lack of hard throwing arms frequently cost the Twins wins and the loss of Joe Nathan certainly doesn’t help change that.

The Twins lost 6-5 Monday afternoon in Detroit on a controversial call. Alex Avila doubled down the leftfield line and the ball appeared to touch 1 or more fans and fan interference was called but the umpires decided to award Jhonny Peralta home plate from first base on what appeared to be a ground-rule double.

The Twins were swept in Arizona over the weekend and are now 15-30 and 14 1/2 games back of Cleveland for first place in the American League Central. The bullpen blew leads for the Twins on Friday and Saturday and Alex Burnett gave up a run Sunday that caused him to take the loss.

The Twins lost their 4th game in a row last night when the bullpen blew a late lead in their 4-3 defeat at Kansas City. Alex Burnett allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and took the loss. Scott Baker threw the ball well throwing 6 1/3 innings with 8 hits and 2 earned runs allowed and doesn't figure in the final decision.