Sam Deduno

The Twins signed right-handed starting pitchers Sam Deduno and Esmerling Vasquez to minor league contracts. The 29-year old Deduno was 6-5 with a 4.44 ERA for the Twins in 2012. The 28-year old Vasquez was 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA for the Twins in 2012. Both players are expected to compete for a starting spot in the Twins rotation this spring.

The Twins lost 8-2 to the New York Yankees Wednesday in the final game of the 3-game series. Sam Deduno left the game after 1 2/3 innings with eye irritation. Deduno had no hits and no runs allowed with 2 strikeouts. Alexi Casilla 2 hits and both Matt Carson and Pedro Florimon had 1 hit and 1 RBI. Chris Dickerson hit a 2-run homerun and C.C. Sabathia threw 8 innings with 2 earned runs allowed to get the win. Sabathia had 10 strikeouts.

The Twins won their 3rd straight game against Cleveland 7-2 Monday night to win the series 3 games to 1. Sam Deduno threw 7 innings with 3 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs allowed to get the win and improve to 6-3. Pedro Florimon went 2-4 with with a double and a triple, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, Joe Mauer was 2-4 with 1 RBI and Ryan Doumit hit a solo homerun for the Twins.

The Twins blanked the Seattle Mariners 10-0 at Target Field Wednesday night. Sam Deduno threw 7 shutout innings with just 2 hits allowed to get the win and improve to 5-2. Deduno struckout a career high 9 and allowed no walks. Trevor Plouffe was 2-4 with a 2-run homerun and 4 RBIs, Josh Willingham was 2-3 with a solo homerun and 2 RBIs and Joe Mauer was 3-5 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Plouffe's homerun was his 20th this year while Willingham hit his 32nd.

The Twins lost 5-1 at Seattle Sunday and were swept away in the 3-game series. The Twins have lost 5 straight games. Blake Beavan threw 5 1/3 innings with 7 hits and 1 earned runs to get the win and Sam Deduno allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs allowed to take the loss. Deduno also walked 6. Trevor Plouffe drove in the lone Twins' run with a sacrifice fly and Ryan Doumit had 2 hits for Minnesota.

The Twins defeated Detroit 9-3 Monday night to end their 4-game losing streak. Darin Mastroianni went 3-5 with a homerun and 3 RBIs, Ryan Doumit was 3-4 with 2 runs scored including a 3-run homerun and both Joe Mauer and Jamey Carroll added 3 hits apiece. Sam Deduno threw 7 innings with 5 hits and 3 earned runs allowed to get the win and improve to 4-0.

The Twins blanked Boston 5-0 behind a solid performance by Sam Deduno. Deduno threw 6 shutout innings with 2 hits and 4 walks allowed to get the win and improve to 3-0. Glen Perkins threw 2 scoreless inning of relief to get the save, his 6th. Brian Dozier went 3-4 with a 2-run homerun and 2 runs scored and Justin Morneau went 2-4 with a run scored and Ryan Doumit went 1-3 with 1 RBI.

The Twins defeated the Cleveland Indians 12-5 at home Saturday night after beating Cleveland 11-0 Friday night. Alexi Casilla was 2-4 with 4 RBIs, Ben Revere was 3-5 with 2 RBIs and Josh Willingham hit a 2-run homerun, his 27th. Sam Deduno allowed 5 walks, 2 hits and 1 earned run in 7 innings to get the win. He had 6 strikeots and is now 2-0 this season.