Leading 7-0 through four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers and then 7-3 entering the eighth inning on Saturday night, it looked promising that, through 81 games and the season's midway point, the Minnesota Twins would find themselves 8 games back in the American League Central and 9 games below the .500 mark. 

Not so said closer Matt Capps. 

Five ninth inning hits and four ninth inning runs helped push the Brewers to an 8-7 lead and an eventual series-splitting victory. It also helped hand Capps his sixth blown save of 2011, and the Twins' bullpen their 13th of the season.

Yes, that's right, 13 blown saves. To the season's midway point, the Twins have now gone 17-for-30 in save opportunities—good for a conversion percentage of 57%.

Here's a breakdown of those missed opportunities:

Matt Capps:

July 2 (L, 8-7)

June 8 (W, 3-2)

May 23 (L, 8-7)

May 21 (L, 9-6)

May 11 (L, 9-7)

April 14 (L, 4-3)

 

Joe Nathan:

April 16 (L, 4-3)

April 14 (L, 4-3)

 

Jose Mijares:

June 24 (L, 4-3)

May 31 (L, 8-7)

 

Glen Perkins:

June 19 (W, 5-4)

 

Alex Burnett:

April 29 (L, 4-3)

 

Jim Hoey:

May 27 (L, 6-5)

In the 12 games (you'll see why it's 12 games in just a moment) in which a reliever has blown a save for the Twins in 2011, they have now gone 2-10 (one of the games, April 14, saw both Capps and Nathan blow a save opportunity). Through the midway point in the season, the Twins find themselves looking at the second half of the season with a 35-46 record and a lot of work left to do to make it seven playoff appearances for the team in 10 seasons under manager Ron Gardenhire. 

What doesn't take a lot of work is seeing where the Twins could be with just a handful of those blown saves and 10 eventual losses on the other side of the win-loss column. 

Francisco Liriano stood on the mound at the Metrodome on the afternoon of September 13, 2006, his hands on his knees and his head down. After missing a month of action for an injury, which the team described as ‘forearm inflammation,' he had finally returned to the mound. Now, after just two innings, and on his 27th pitch of the day, Liriano heard a pop in his elbow.

After making six appearances for the Twins during September of 2005, Liriano joined the rotation as a full-time starter with his start on May 19, 2006. From there, he was nothing short of spectacular. The promising lefty—acquired in the trade that sent A.J. Pierzynski to the San Francisco Giants and netted the Twins closer Joe Nathan too—could throw bullets. He would end that rookie season with a 12-3 record, 144 strikeouts, and a 2.16 ERA in just 16 starts (plus 12 appearances out of the bullpen).

But Liriano pitched just twice in all of August and September combined that year. And then came the pop that would not just end his marvelous rookie season, but also put a sudden halt to what looked to be a promising future.

For the Twins, Liriano, and for fans, the hope was that everything would blow over. Everybody involved hoped rehab and rest would do the trick, and that hope continued until the first week of November when Tommy John surgery entered the picture.

There are certain words no pitcher wants to hear when it comes to injuries, and the three biggest ones are: Tommy John surgery. The surgery, in which a ligament in the elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body, was first done in 1974. While it was becoming a more common and more successful operation when Liriano went under the knife on November 6 that year, it would nonetheless put him out for at least the 2007 season, there would be rigorous rehab involved, and nothing was guaranteed.

In 2008, Liriano arrived in Fort Myers, Florida, for spring training. He was finally back. That spring, Liriano told ESPN that the surgery had him fearing the worst.

"At first when I started playing catch, it hurt so bad I said, 'I'm done playing baseball.'"

But on April 13, 2008, Liriano was in Kansas City on the mound against the Royals. That day, the prized lefty (who was suddenly 24-years old) struggled with control. The trend continued through three April starts before Liriano was demoted to the minor leagues. He would return that season and fair better, but Liriano struggled again in 2009 to the tune of a 5.80 ERA. Everybody wondered if the prodigy of 2006 would ever resurface. 

In 2010, Liriano posted a 3.62 ERA and struck out 201 batters. He was finally back.

Looking for Liriano's resurgence to continue in 2011, fans had been disappointed to watch the 27-year old enter the game against the White Sox on Tuesday night with a 9.13 ERA, 18 walks, and 18 strikeouts in five starts. 

And then Liriano did the most improbable thing: he tossed a no-hitter. 

There was some luck involved with some good defensive plays and double play balls. That's baseball. It wasn't the most visually pleasing line with 123 pitches thrown or his 6 walks allowed. That's baseball too. And it certainly wasn't probable as the struggling Liriano, who entered the game with a league-high ERA, faced a demotion to the bullpen with a poor outing.

On Tuesday night, Francisco Liriano became just the second current pitcher in baseball—joining the Marlins' Anibal Sanchez—to throw a no-hitter after Tommy John surgery. As Liriano stood with his head down on that September day in 2006, his career stood in jeopardy and a no-hit feat seemed just as improbable as it did when he stepped to the mound in Chicago.

That's what makes baseball, and this improbable feat, so great. 

(Sports Network) – Delmon Young went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer to help back seven strong innings from Scott Baker, as the Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-2, in the continuation of a four-game set.

Baker (8-9) was efficient and effective, throwing 61 of his 89 pitches for strikes. He gave up two runs and four hits, walked one, and struck out eight in snapping a two-start losing streak.

Young, who drove in three overall, recorded his second four-hit game of the season. Danny Valencia added three hits and drove in one for the Twins, who have won three of four.

Orioles starter Brian Matusz (3-11) labored through five innings, in which he threw 96 pitches. The left-hander gave up six hits, walked three and got in a number of potentially dangerous situations, but limited the damage to three runs.

However, every Orioles pitcher after Matusz let in at least one run as Baltimore lost for the seventh time in its last nine games.

Luke Scott went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer to power the Orioles’ offense.

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(Sports Network) - Struggling to keep pace with the White Sox and Tigers in the AL Central, the Twins will try to solve their road woes when Minnesota battles the Baltimore Orioles in the third installment of a four-game set this evening at Camden Yards.

If the Twins are going to keep up in the AL Central race they will need the likes of Scott Baker to turn his season around. The right-hander has lost four of his last five matchups, falling to a meager 7-9 on the year.

Over his last two outings, Baker has been pounded for 11 runs in just 10 2/3 innings. The most recent setback came against Cleveland, as the Indians tallied six runs on 10 hits.

What has really hurt the veteran hurler has been his performance on the road, where the Oklahoma State product has posted a miserable 1-6 ledger with a 6.66 ERA in nine starts outside of Minnesota.

However, in his career Baker has pitched extremely well against Baltimore, going 4-0 in six outings against the AL East foe, while racking up an impressive 2.52 ERA. Earlier this season, Baker tossed eight outstanding innings against the Orioles, surrendering just one run on three hits, while striking out eight batters.

The Orioles, who currently own the worst record in baseball at 30-65 will send rookie Brian Matusz to the hill. Matsuz has suffered through some rookies woes after a fast start and enters this contest with just one victory in his last 10 starts.

The last time the San Diego University product was on the rubber he did not make it out of the second inning against Toronto, as the Blue Jays punished the young hurler for six runs on five hits and two walks.

It was the 10th loss on the year for Matusz, who has gone winless in nine starts at Camden Yards this season. At home thus far, the Colorado native is 0-6 with a meager 5.57 earned run average.

Earlier this season the southpaw was greeted rudely by the Twins, as Minnesota clobbered the young hurler for six runs on nine hits, chasing him from the contest in the fourth inning.

On Friday, Jeremy Guthrie picked up his first victory in nearly two months thanks to a two-run homer by Luke Scott in the sixth inning, as Baltimore edged Minnesota, 3-2.

Guthrie (4-10), winless in nine starts since beating Oakland on May 25, yielded two runs on six hits in seven effective innings to pick up the win, the Orioles' second in eight games since the All-Star break.

Anthony Slama (0-1) gave up the go-ahead home run to take the loss behind Brian Duensing, who went five innings in his first start of the year and allowed just one run on four hits while walking none.

Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Twins, who had won two straight and five of seven coming in.

The season series is currently tied at three games apiece, but the Twins have dropped four of their last five matchups at Camden Yards.

(Sports Network) – Jeremy Guthrie picked up his first victory in nearly two months thanks to a two-run homer by Luke Scott in the sixth inning, as Baltimore edged Minnesota, 3-2, in the second test of a four-game set.

Guthrie (4-10), winless in nine starts since beating Oakland on May 25, yielded two runs on six hits in seven effective innings to pick up the win, the Orioles’ second in eight games since the All-Star break.

Anthony Slama (0-1) gave up the go-ahead home run to take the loss behind Brian Duensing, who went five innings in his first start of the year and allowed just one run on four hits while walking none.

Joe Mauer went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Twins, who had won two straight and five of seven coming in.

Minnesota shut out its previous two opponents but gave up a run in the first inning Friday, as Adam Jones’ two-out, RBI single gave the Orioles an early lead that held up until the sixth.

Guthrie faced the minimum from the third through the fifth frame, then retired the first two hitters in the sixth before Alexi Casilla singled to left. Mauer then sent one into the seats in right-center for his fifth home run this season. The reigning AL MVP belted a career-high 28 round-trippers last year.

The Twins’ lead was short-lived, with Miguel Tejada leading off the bottom frame with a single off Slama, who was making his second career appearance since being called up from Triple-A Rochester. Two batters later, Scott gave the rookie reliever a rude welcome with a no-doubter to right for a 3-2 edge.

Denard Span led off the away eighth with a single and was moved into scoring position with a bunt. However, Will Ohman got Mauer to bounce out to short, and David Hernandez got Michael Cuddyer to fly out to the deepest part of the park in center.

Alfredo Simon worked around Delmon Young’s one-out single in the ninth to close out the victory and notch his 14th save of the season.

Duensing, who made nine starts last season, had appeared in 39 games out of the bullpen this year and pitched to an impressive 1.67 earned run average. He started in place of an ineffective Nick Blackburn…Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson left in the third inning with a right oblique strain…Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts, sidelined since suffering an abdominal strain four games into the season, went 0-for-4 out of the leadoff spot in his return. To make room for Roberts, Baltimore designated infielder Scott Moore for assignment…O’s infielder Ty Wigginton was suspended by Major League Baseball for three games for his on-field argument and subsequent volatile reaction with an umpire in the opener of this series. He appealed and went 1- for-4 in the win…Tejada had two hits and two runs scored for Baltimore.

(Sports Network) -- Brian Duensing will have a tough act to follow when the Minnesota Twins pitcher makes his first start of the season in tonight's clash with the Baltimore Orioles from Camden Yards.

Minnesota took the opener of this four-game series behind a sensational performance from Carl Pavano on Thursday, with the veteran right-hander going the distance on a five-hitter to lead his team to a 5-0 triumph.

Pavano (12-6) struck out four and walked just one in posting his seventh consecutive winning decision, and needed only 102 pitches to record his fourth complete game in seven starts.

"I set out this offseason with personal goals," said Pavano, whose 12 wins are just one shy of the New York Yankees' CC Sabathia for the American League lead. "I wanted to go deeper into games and it feels better than good."

Delmon Young continued a recent tear of his own for Minnesota, collecting two hits in three at-bats and staking Pavano to a quick 3-0 lead with a bases- clearing double in the first inning. The former No. 1 overall pick is now hitting .452 (14-for-31) with 12 RBI in eight games since the All-Star break.

Michael Cuddyer added a solo homer in the victory, the Twins' fifth in their last seven tries. Minnesota moved within two games of idle Chicago for first place in the AL Central standings.

Duensing will attempt to get his club a little closer to the top spot when he toes the rubber tonight. The former University of Nebraska standout has been brilliant pitching out of the bullpen this season, compiling a 3-1 record with a stellar 1.67 earned run average over 39 appearances, which prompted manager Ron Gardenhire to tab the left-hander to replace an ineffective Nick Blackburn in the Minnesota rotation.

The 27-year-old Duensing did make nine regular-season starts as a rookie in 2009 and also took the ball for the Twins in their 7-2 loss to the Yankees in Game 1 of last year's AL Division Series. He pitched very well in a starting role, producing an impressive 5-1 record and a 2.73 ERA in those nine outings.

Duensing stretched out for tonight's assignment by throwing four innings in relief of Blackburn against the White Sox last Sunday, and picked up the win in the Twins' 7-6 come-from-behind verdict after yielding just one run.

Blackburn has registered a poor 6.53 ERA in 18 starts and was demoted to the bullpen after being reached for five runs in five innings in Sunday's test. It was the fifth time in the righty's last six games in which he allowed five runs or more.

Jeremy Guthrie, the scheduled starter for Baltimore this evening, is mired in a frustrating slump as well at the moment. The right-hander comes in having dropped six consecutive decisions since his last victory, a May 25 besting of Oakland, and is a woeful 3-10 with 4.58 ERA overall in a disappointing 2010 campaign.

Guthrie was sharp in his latest effort, though, limiting Toronto to one run while striking out six batters over 6 2/3 innings this past Saturday at Camden Yards. He still wound up with a no-decision to extend his winless streak to nine straight starts.

One of Guthrie's three wins of 2010 did come against the Twins, however, with the former Cleveland Indians No. 1 pick permitting three runs in 6 2/3 innings during a May 8 encounter in Minneapolis. He's 2-0 with a 3.16 ERA through five career matchups with Minnesota, three of which have been starts.

Baltimore owns the majors' worst record at 30-65 and has dropped six of seven to begin the second half following last night's defeat. Kevin Millwood (2-9), making his first start in more than two weeks, took the loss on Thursday after surrendering five runs in a 6 1/3-inning stint.

Minnesota has won three of five meetings with Baltimore so far this season, but had lost in three straight visits to Camden Yards prior to prevailing last night.

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(Sports Network) – Carl Pavano’s remarkable campaign continued against an American League bottom-feeder, as Minnesota blanked Baltimore, 5-0, in the first of four games at Camden Yards.

One season removed from a 5-plus earned run average while toiling in Cleveland, Pavano (12-6) now holds a 3.26 ERA and worked his fourth complete game in his last seven starts. The right-hander scattered five hits and one walk around four strikeouts.

The right-hander has won a career-best seven straight decisions and is unbeaten over a nine-start span dating back to June 9. The Twins have won all but one of those games.

Delmon Young’s torrid tear led to three more RBI and Michael Cuddyer hit a solo shot for the Twins, who have won two straight.

Kevin Millwood (2-9) returned from a brief stint on the disabled list to take the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 6 1/3 frames. He’s 0-9 lifetime against the Twins.

Cesar Izturis doubled, one of two Baltimore extra-base hits, in defeat. The Orioles have lost two straight and six of seven overall.

The Twins jumped on Millwood in a three-run first, all started by Joe Mauer’s two-out double to left. Jason Kubel then walked and Cuddyer patiently worked a five-pitch free pass before Young cleared the bases with his 28th double of the season.

Cuddyer deposited a ball into the left-field seats in the fourth for a 4-0 edge and a wild — and argumentative — top of the seventh opened a five-run edge.

J.J. Hardy, who singled off Miguel Tejada’s glove, tried scampering back to first and first baseman Ty Wigginton attempted to apply a tag. Replays showed he clipped Hardy’s hand before the runner reached back to first base, but umpire Gary Darling saw otherwise, calling him safe and uncorking an explosive escapade from Wigginton, who appeared to bump Darling when he was ejected.

Hardy moved to second on a groundout and scored on Drew Butera’s single to center. The stop in action prompted an argument from Orioles manager Juan Samuel, who left home plate umpire Bill Hahn know his feelings on Darling’s call, resulting in another ejection.

Pavano pitched his seventh career shutout and his 12th career complete game…Baltimore dropped to 17-31 at home this season…Orioles pitching coach Rick Kranitz was also ejected in the seventh frame.

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(Sports Network) - The Minnesota Twins have had their problems when playing on the road in recent weeks, but a visit to Baltimore's Camden Yards could help solve those struggles.

Minnesota starts up a week-long trek with tonight's opener of a four-game series with the hapless Orioles, owners of the worst home record in baseball this season.

The Twins have lost nine of their last 12 road tests and are just 20-25 away from home this year, one reason why the defending American League Central champions trail the Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2 games for first place in the division. Minnesota has found considerably more success at the brand-new Target Field, having amassed a 30-20 mark thus far in the team's first-year home.

Minnesota began its post-All Star break schedule with a seven-game homestand that featured three wins in four matchups with the rival White Sox this past weekend. The Twins then proceeded to drop a pair of contests to the last-place Cleveland Indians before averting a potential sweep with a 6-0 triumph in yesterday's series finale.

Francisco Liriano fired seven shutout innings to lead the way on Wednesday, while Delmon Young kept up his torrid hitting by collecting three hits and three RBI to pace Minnesota offensively. J.J. Hardy added a two-run double for the Twins, who scored four times in the third inning to give Liriano all the support he would need.

Liriano (8-7) scattered six hits and four walks while striking out eight batters in winning his second straight start following the break. The left- hander had gone 0-4 with a 6.75 earned run average in his final five outings of the first half.

Young, meanwhile, has hit .400 (12-for-28) with nine RBI in Minnesota's seven tilts since the All-Star Game, which has raised the former No. 1 overall pick's season average to .313.

Carl Pavano, who'll take the ball for the Twins in tonight's opener of this set, is on quite a roll of his own at the moment. The oft-injured righty enters this evening's clash having won six consecutive decisions and is unbeaten over an eight-start span dating back to June 9. Minnesota has prevailed in all but one of those games.

Pavano came up big once again this past Saturday, limiting Chicago to seven hits and striking out six without a walk in a complete-game effort that lifted the Twins to an important 3-2 victory. It was the third time the 34-year-old has gone the distance during his undefeated run, in which he's posted a strong 2.74 ERA and walked just seven batters in a combined 62 1/3 innings.

The 11-game winner was dealt a loss by the Orioles earlier this season, but still pitched well in that May 6 encounter in Minneapolis. Pavano worked eight innings and allowed just two runs while garnering eight strikeouts, but came out on the wrong end of a 2-0 decision.

Pavano is 4-3 with a 3.28 ERA over eight lifetime starts against Baltimore, and 5-3 with a 3.46 ERA in nine appearances on the road this season.

He'll be opposed tonight by Kevin Millwood, with the Orioles veteran set to return from a brief stint on the disabled list due to a strained right forearm. The right-hander was shelved for a couple of weeks after lasting only one inning in a rough showing against Detroit on July 5, with Millwood surrendering five runs on four hits and walking two batters before exiting.

The offseason acquisition, a 13-game winner for Texas last year, has endured a rough first season in Baltimore. Millwood has registered a subpar 5.77 ERA and allowed a .307 opposing average in his 18 starts, and had lost his first eight decisions prior to coming through with back-to-back wins over San Diego and Florida on June 19 and 24.

Millwood will be trying to beat Minnesota for the first time in his 14-year career, as he's 0-8 with a 5.71 in 13 lifetime starts against tonight's foe. The 35-year-old did have a solid performance against the Twins on May 8, but was stuck with a tough-luck defeat after permitting three runs through seven innings.

The Orioles, whose 30-64 overall record is the worst in the majors, picked up right where they left off before the break on this current homestand.

Baltimore has lost five of the first six tilts on the 10-game residency and comes in off a 5-4 setback to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

Ty Wigginton slugged a two-run homer and Luke Scott went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Baltimore, but the O's failed to score over the final four innings after Tampa Bay took a 5-4 lead on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth.

The Rays loaded the bases against Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen with one out in the sixth on a single and a pair of walks, but the Orioles nearly escaped the jam when new pitcher Jason Berken got Jason Bartlett to hit into a force play at home. Berken would then issue a free pass to Evan Longoria, though, to bring in the go-ahead run.

"I was just trying to throw my fastball down and away," Berken said. "I left it up and in. It wasn't the location I wanted."

Bergesen (3-8) received the loss after being charged with all five runs on nine hits in his 5 1/3-inning stint.

The Orioles fell to a woeful 17-30 at home with Wednesday's defeat, but have beaten the Twins in the last three meetings between the teams held at Camden Yards.

Minnesota played Wednesday's game without the services of manager Ron Gardenhire due to an undisclosed family matter, with third base coach Scott Ullger running the team in his absence. It's unclear whether Gardenhire will be available to return to his duties tonight.

Infielder Alexi Casilla was placed on the disabled list back on June 1st with elbow soreness. Shortly after, Casilla had surgery to remove bone spurs. Nearly seven weeks following his assignment to the disabled list, Casilla has been reinstated to the Twins’ active roster.

Twins optioned RHP Jeff Manship to Rochester after today’s game and activated INF Alexi Casilla from the DL.

In 29 games this season (only 39 official at-bats), Casilla is hitting .256 with a .370 on-base percentage. Manship, who is headed back to Triple-A, threw two scoreless innings in his short stay with the club.

After going 5-0 with a solid 2.65 ERA in the month of May, it looked as if starter Nick Blackburn was well on his way to a good third season with the Minnesota Twins. With the change of month however, Blackburn hit a bump in the road.

Since May, Blackburn has gone 1-6 with a dismal 9.88 ERA. In that span he has allowed 70 hits and 45 runs in just 41 innings of work.

His performance still has him on the roster, but he’ll now be headed for a new role. Lefty Brian Duensing has been added to the rotation, and Blackburn is headed to the ’pen.

With the Twins looking for their pitching staff to step up in the second half, they’ll hope for a strong run from Duensing, just as he provided last season when he went 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA after being inserted into the rotation at the end of August.

(Sports Network) – Francisco Liriano pitched seven shutout innings, and the Minnesota Twins avoided their first home sweep of the season with a 6-0 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Liriano (8-7) allowed six hits and walked four while fanning eight to improve to 3-0 against the Indians this season, sporting a 1.29 earned run average in 21 innings. The lefty has now won both of his second-half starts after going 0-4 in his last five outings before the All-Star break.

J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double, while Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Twins, who have won four of six. Delmon Young added RBI No. 65, 66 and 67 of the season with three hits in the victory.

Chris Gimenez doubled for the lone Indians extra-base hit, as Cleveland had a season-best six-game win streak snapped. It was the first loss for the club since the All-Star break, the longest the Indians have gone to begin the second half without a loss.

Jake Westbrook (6-6) allowed four runs, six hits and five walks in six frames to take the loss.

The Indians threatened several times in the early innings, but it appeared their luck had run out.

Cleveland put the first two batters of the second inning on base, but Shelley Duncan grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, preceeding Trevor Crowe’s inning- ending strikeout.

The visitors then had runners on first and third with two outs in the third, but Carlos Santana fanned to end the inning, and the Twins scored four times in the home half.

Drew Butera doubled leading off, and Orlando Hudson reached on a one-out walk. Young sent an RBI double down the left field line, and Jason Kubel was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Cuddyer made the Indians pay for the decision, singling to left to score Hudson. Young was thrown out at home on the play, but Hardy contributed with his two-run double before Westbrook got out of the inning.

The Indians loaded the bases in the fifth with one away, but Jayson Nix grounded into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play, and Matt LaPorta lined into a double play to end the sixth.

In the seventh, Cleveland had runners on second and third with two outs, but Liriano struck out Asdrubal Cabrera to keep the shutout intact. Young’s two- run single in the eighth off Jess Todd accounted for the final margin, as Jesse Crain and Anthony Slama finished off the whitewash.

Slama made his major league debut…Santana had a streak of 15 straight games reaching base snapped…Gimenez’s hit extended the Indians’ streak of games with an extra-base hit to 44, the AL’s longest active stretch…Twins manager Ron Gardenhire tended to a family matter and was not present at the game. Third base coach Scott Ullger managed the team Wednesday…Minnesota announced that Brian Duensing will take Nick Blackburn’s place in the rotation on Friday…Hudson has a 10-game hit streak.

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(Sports Network) - One of the American League's worst teams during the season's first half, the Cleveland Indians, have suddenly become one of baseball's hottest clubs since the All-Star break. The red-hot Tribe will attempt to lock down a seventh straight victory and record a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins when the two AL Central inhabitants face one another today at Target Field.

Cleveland has won each of its first six contests of the second half, its longest win streak since a seven-game tear from September 15-22, 2008. The surge has come against pretty good competition as well, as the Indians won all four meetings with contending Detroit before their back-to-back bestings of the defending AL Central champion Twins.

"We're playing really good baseball," designated hitter Travis Hafner said after last night's 4-3 victory over Minnesota. "Our starting pitching has been really good, and our bullpen has been lights out. It seems like we're able to get some key hits, a lot of two-out RBI."

Hafner came up with a big hit on Tuesday, an RBI double off Twins reliever Jose Mijares (1-1) in the top of the eighth inning that snapped a 3-3 deadlock. Joe Smith then held Minnesota scoreless in the bottom of the frame before closer Chris Perez finished off the win with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Minnesota had knotted the score at 3-3 on consecutive run-scoring singles by Denard Span and Orlando Hudson in the seventh. Both hits came against Rafael Perez (3-0), who came on in relief of Indians starter Justin Masterson and wound up with the win despite failing to protect his team's lead.

Masterson was charged with three runs allowed over 6 1/3 innings and struck out seven batters in an otherwise-solid performance. Shelley Duncan had a two- run single for Cleveland, with both Hafner and rookie catcher Carlos Santana collecting a pair of hits on the evening.

Minnesota is tied with the Tigers at 3 1/2 games behind Chicago for first place in the AL Central after Tuesday's setback. The Twins had won three straight meetings with the White Sox over the weekend prior to this series.

Coming off very encouraging last start, Francisco Liriano will attempt to enable Minnesota to avert a series sweep when he takes the mound this afternoon.

Liriano recorded four losses and a no-decision over a rough five-start stretch to finish out his first half, while compiling a poor 6.75 earned run average during that period. A few extra days of rest seemed to benefit the talented southpaw, however, as he returned to the win column with a sharp performance against the division-leading White Sox this past Friday.

Chicago managed just two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings against Liriano, with the Minnesota hurler registering eight strikeouts in the 7-4 verdict. The strong effort lowered the Dominican native's ERA to 2.83 in nine starts at Target Field, where he's posted a 4-3 record thus far at the first-year park.

In his final outing prior to the break, Liriano was rocked for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings of a July 9 defeat at Detroit.

The 26-year-old owns a 4-3 mark with a 3.61 ERA over 10 career appearances (eight starts) against Cleveland, and bested the Indians twice earlier this season. In an April 21 clash at Target Field, Liriano fired eight scoreless innings in leading the Twins to a 6-0 win.

Jake Westbrook gets the call for Cleveland today and like Liriano, had a successful showing in his first start after the All-Star break. The veteran righty held Detroit to two runs and struck out five batters through 5 2/3 effective innings on Friday for his fourth victory in six decisions.

After making a mere five starts over the past two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, Westbrook has put up decent numbers for the last-place Indians and drawn interest from contending teams as the trade deadline approaches. The 32- year-old improved to 6-5 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts with Friday's result.

Westbrook will be facing the Twins for the first time since the 2008 campaign today and is 7-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 23 career encounters (17 starts) with Minnesota.

These divisional foes have now split eight overall matchups so far in 2010, with the Indians having won three of the five games played between the clubs at Target Field.

(Sports Network) – Travis Hafner’s RBI double in the eighth proved to be the difference, and the Cleveland Indians extended their winning streak to a season-best six with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Hafner finished with a pair of hits for the Indians, who have yet to lose since the All-Star break. It is the longest winning streak for the club since a seven-game stretch from September 15-22, 2008.

Shelley Duncan drove in two, while Carlos Santana and Matt LaPorta each had two hits in the win. Rafael Perez (3-0) earned the win despite allowing two inherited runners to score, and Chris Perez earned his ninth save.

Denard Span and Orlando Hudson each recorded two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who have lost three straight home games to the Indians for the first time since August 6, 2007-April 18, 2008.

Kevin Slowey allowed three runs in 5 2/3 frames, but didn’t factor into the decision, as Jose Mijares (1-1) received the loss for giving up the hit to Hafner.

After the Twins tied the game in the seventh, the Indians grabbed a 4-3 lead in the eighth when Santana drew a four-pitch walk off Mijares and raced around to score on Hafner’s double to center.

Joe Smith induced three straight groundouts to set down the Twins in order in the eighth, and Perez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the victory.

The Indians used some more timely hitting to take the lead in the sixth.

Santana singled with one away, and Jhonny Peralta’s two-out base hit moved Santana to second. After LaPorta worked a walk, Jesse Crain relieved Slowey and yielded a two-run single to Duncan, giving Cleveland a 3-1 advantage.

The Twins, though, rallied to tie the game in the seventh. J.J. Hardy and Nick Punto hit back-to-back one-out singles to end Justin Masterson’s outing, and Span and Hudson greeted Rafael Perez with consecutive RBI singles to even the score.

Minnesota jumped on the board in the opening inning.

Span legged out a double to center leading off, and Hudson followed with a single just past the outstretched glove of Jason Donald at second to put runners on the corners.

Joe Mauer’s ground ball scored Span and sent Hudson to second, and Hudson moved to third on a wild pitch. Masterson, though, settled down to strike out Jason Kubel and Jim Thome to get out of the inning.

The Indians tied the game in the fifth. LaPorta started the frame with a single and moved to second on Trevor Crowe’s groundout. With two outs, Donald launched a double to right, easily scoring LaPorta for a 1-1 game.

The Indians are 16-15 in Santana’s 31 starts at catcher…Cleveland is 20-17 against the AL Central overall…Slowey has just one win since June 13…The Indians have recorded an extra-base hit in 43 straight games, the longest active streak in the AL…The Twins have just one stolen base in their last 14 games…The season series is tied, 4-4…The Indians activated shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera after he sat out two months with a broken arm. He went 0- for-5 out of the leadoff spot in his first game since May 17…Masterson finished with three runs allowed on seven hits and a walk while fanning seven in 6 1/3 frames.

After the game last night, the Minnesota Twins optioned reliever Alex Burnett to Triple-A Rochester, moved Clay Condrey to the 60-day disabled list, and called-up Anthony Slama to fill the open void in the team’s bullpen.

Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune points out a couple of the key numbers.

Anthony Slama is expected to be here after being promoted from Class AAA Rochester late Monday night, when the Twins optioned Alex Burnett to Rochester and moved Clay Condrey to the 60-day disabled list, which freed a spot for Slama on the 40-man roster. Slama posted a 1.71 ERA and held opponents to a .164 average for Rochester.

Meanwhile, while Slama was dominating Triple-A, Burnett was struggling over the course of the last month. Since the beginning of July, in seven appearances, Burnett had an ERA of 10.80.

It’s been known for about one week now, but the Minnesota Timberwolves will make it official with an introduction tomorrow at Target Center. The team has signed point guard Luke Ridnour to a 4-year, $16 million contract.

Luke Ridnour deal is done. He’ll be introduced tomorrow at Target Center at noon.

The team is said to have point guard Ramon Sessions on the trading block. They signed him to the same terms last off-season.

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(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians are beginning to atone for a miserable first half of the season with a terrific start to their second.

The rejuvenated Indians take aim at a sixth consecutive victory following the All-Star break when they resume a three-game series with the American League Central contending Minnesota Twins this evening at Target Field.

Cleveland found itself buried in last place in the AL Central with a brutal 34-54 record at the break, but have been on fire since returning from the hiatus. The Indians began their streak with a surprising four-game home sweep of playoff-hopeful Detroit, then kept rolling with a 10-4 battering of the Twins in last night's opener of this set.

The Indians pounded out a season-best 20 hits in Monday's triumph, with Trevor Crowe going 4-for-5 with two RBI to lead the outburst. Jayson Nix finished with three hits and also knocked in two runs for the Tribe, with Jason Donald contributing two hits and a pair of RBI to the winning effort.

Cleveland has scored 31 runs and batted .311 as a team over the course of its five-game surge.

"They're hot right now," said Twins outfielder Delmon Young after yesterday's game. "You don't want to play a team that's hot right now. Everything is going to go their way."

The Indians also received effective pitching from Aaron Laffey in the opener, as the left-hander yielded just one unearned run despite walking four batters over the first five innings.

"Obviously you're going to be frustrated about the walks, but I was able to minimize the damage and get out of a big jam in the fourth," Laffey said. "I made big pitches when I needed to and get the outs when they were the most important."

Minnesota went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and fell to 2 1/2 games behind current AL Central leader Chicago with Monday's defeat. The Twins entered this series off three straight wins over the White Sox.

Twins starter Scott Baker (7-9) was hit hard in his first outing of the second half, surrendering six runs and 10 hits before exiting after 4 2/3 innings. Former Indians star Jim Thome had a solo homer for Minnesota, while Orlando Hudson ended 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the setback.

Young collected three hits, including a run-scoring single, and is hitting .440 (11-for-25) with six RBI over his last six contests. The effort has raised the former No. 1 overall draft pick's season average to .313.

The Twins will try to bounce back tonight behind the struggling Kevin Slowey, who's notched just one win since June 13 and has allowed five runs or more in five of his past six starts. The right-hander has posted a poor 9.11 earned run average over that bad stretch.

Slowey wasn't sharp once again in Thursday's encounter with the White Sox, permitting five runs and nine hits in only three innings of work. He wound up being bailed out by his offense, though, and finished with a no-decision in an eventual 8-7 Minnesota loss.

The 26-year-old does have a track record of success against the Indians, however. Slowey has won both of his previous meetings with Cleveland this season, including an April 20 verdict at Target Field in which he fired eight innings of one-run ball, and has come out on top in each of his last four starts in this series. In eight lifetime appearances against the Tribe, he's 5-2 with a 3.73 ERA.

Justin Masterson gets the call for Cleveland tonight in a delayed second-half debut. The tall right-hander was initially slated to pitch Sunday against the Tigers, but was pushed back a couple of days with a sore ankle.

Like his team, Masterson has endured a rough 2010 campaign. He went 3-8 with a 5.31 ERA in 18 starts prior to the All-Star break and has especially had problems on the road, where the 25-year-old has produced a 1-5 record with a subpar 6.75 ERA in 10 mound trips. One of those defeats came against Slowey at Target Field, where Masterson was reached for five runs (two earned) and walked five batters in four innings back on April 20.

Masterson, who's 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA through four starts and one relief appearance versus Minnesota, last pitched on July 11 and allowed five runs (four earned) in a five-inning no-decision at Tampa Bay.

These divisional foes have split four meetings at Target Field so far in 2010, with the Twins having won four of the seven overall games played between the clubs this season.

(Sports Network) – Trevor Crowe had a career-high four hits and drove in two runs, as the Cleveland Indians remained hot with a 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series at Target Field.

Jayson Nix went 3-for-6 with two RBI for the Indians, who matched a season high with their fifth consecutive win, having swept Detroit in four games in their previous series.

Cleveland recorded a season-high 20 hits to support an effective start by Aaron Laffey (2-3). He threw only 58 of his 100 pitches for strikes and lasted five innings, but limited the Twins to an unearned run on five hits and four walks.

Scott Baker (7-9) gave up six runs on 10 hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings and took the loss, which snapped Minnesota’s three-game win streak.

Justin Morneau can come of the disabled list as soon as this Friday, but as of now it doesn’t appear that will happen. Kelly Thesier of MLB.com tweets that Morneau is still fuzzy following a concussion he suffered nearly two weeks ago.

Justin Morneau will see a specialist tomorrow. He’s still battling concussion symptoms and likely won’t travel w/team this wknd.

Currently in the middle of a tight race in the American League Central, the Twins could use Morneau’s offense. Until the effects of the concussion subside however, the All-Star first baseman will continue to rest.

While the Twins wait on Morneau, infielder Alexi Casilla is apparently ready to return. Casilla had elbow surgery to remove bone spurs earlier this season, and manager Ron Gardenhire may be leaning towards activating him this week.

Sounds like Casilla will be back for #Twins on Wednesday.

(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians may have little hope of finishing in first place in the American League Central, but they've done a fine job of hurting the postseason chances of some of the division's top teams as of late.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the cellar-dwelling Indians head to Minneapolis' Target Field tonight to take on another AL Central champion hopeful, the Minnesota Twins, in the opener of a three-game series.

Cleveland, which came out of the All-Star break 16 games behind front-running Chicago in the division standings, started off its second half in outstanding fashion, taking all four meetings with the contending Detroit Tigers. The Tribe received strong starting pitching in each game of the series, with rookie Jeanmar Gomez continuing the trend in Sunday's 7-2 triumph.

Called up from Triple-A Columbus earlier in the day to make a spot start in place of an ailing Justin Masterson, Gomez yielded two unearned runs and struck out four while walking just one over seven innings in an impressive major league debut. The 22-year-old, who had a suspect 5.70 ERA in 18 starts with the Clippers, allowed five hits and threw 60 of his 93 pitches for strikes.

Jhonny Peralta staked Gomez to an early lead with a three-run inside-the-park homer in the first inning, while Matt LaPorta added an RBI triple later on to help Cleveland record its first four-game sweep of the Tigers since May 31- June 3, 1991. Jayson Nix finished 3-for-5 and contributed an RBI single to the victory.

"It's the first time that I hit a homer inside the park," Peralta said. "When I saw [Raburn] jump into the wall, I tried to run really fast."

Cleveland, which ranks 12th in the AL in team earned run average, held the Tigers to a total of eight runs over the four games.

Aaron Laffey will attempt to continue the Indians' recent pitching prowess when he takes the mound in tonight's opener. The left-hander has made four starts since being inserted into the rotation in late June and has gone 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA during that stretch.

Laffey's final first-half assignment resulted in a loss, with the swingman surrendering three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings at Tampa Bay on July 10. He's faced the Twins three times in relief earlier this season, giving up a pair of runs in a span of 3 2/3 frames.

The 25-year-old does own a 4-2 career record against Minnesota, with three of those wins coming in a starting role last season, and sports a 4.71 ERA in his 11 overall encounters (eight starts) with the Twins.

Minnesota has also gotten its post-All Star break slate off to a desired start, taking the final three tests of a critical four-game home set with the AL Central-leading White Sox. That performance has moved the Twins into a second-place tie with Detroit in the standings and within 1 1/2 games of Chicago's lead.

The Twins secured a series win in dramatic fashion on Sunday, scoring four times in the bottom of the ninth inning to deal the White Sox a startling 7-6 defeat. Michael Cuddyer scored the deciding run on a throwing error by Chicago outfielder Alex Rios to cap the improbable comeback.

With the Twins down 6-3 entering their final at-bat, Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer drew back-to-back walks off Sox closer Bobby Jenks before Jason Kubel singled to bring home a run. Cuddyer followed with a base hit to plate Mauer and bring Minnesota within one, and after Jason Repko reached base via a walk, Delmon Young singled against reliever Sergio Santos to tie the score. Cuddyer had initially stopped at third on the play, but ran home when Rios' throw eluded the cutoff man to complete the rally.

Young also had a two-run homer while Cuddyer ended 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI for the Twins. Brian Duensing (3-1) did his part as well, tossing four innings of one-run ball in relief of ineffective starter Nick Blackburn.

"I felt a little sluggish, thought I was fighting myself the first couple innings. Duensing said afterward. "The last couple innings I tried not to do as much and just throw strikes."

While the Twins seek to build off yesterday's thrilling win, Scott Baker hopes to continue his season-long success at Target Field when he toes the rubber tonight. The right-hander has compiled a 6-2 record with a 3.28 ERA in nine starts at the first-year ballpark thus far in 2010.

Baker was terrific in his most recent Target Field appearance, limiting Tampa Bay to a run and striking out eight without a walk over seven innings back on July 2. He wasn't as sharp in his subsequent outing, though, permitting five runs and serving up a pair of homers in six innings in a July 8 loss at Toronto.

The Oklahoma State product will be out to avenge a loss to the Tribe at Target Field on April 22, when Baker was reached for six runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. He's 7-6 lifetime against Cleveland with a 3.50 ERA in 17 starts.

Minnesota took two of three tilts from the Indians in that April series in Minneapolis and is 4-2 overall against Cleveland this season.

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Sometimes it can be hard to remember that Delmon Young is just 24-years old. He’s currently playing in his fourth full season at the Major League level and his fifth season overall.

Last season, his second with the Minnesota Twins, Young by many standards underperformed. He did however end the 2009 season on a high note, hitting .340 with 4 homeruns and 18 RBI through the months of September and October.

Now halfway through this 2010 season, Young has continued his late-season success, surpassing several of his totals from last year before the end of July.

2009 Totals:
Average: .284
Homeruns: 12
RBI: 60
Walks: 12

2010 To-Date:
Average: .308
Homeruns: 11
RBI: 63
Walks: 17

Delmon Young is showing steady improvement so far this season, and he’s still years away from his peak.

(Sports Network) – Delmon Young’s bases loaded run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning brought in two with the help of a throwing error by Alex Rios, as the Minnesota Twins scored four runs in the inning to shock the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game series at Target Field.

Young also hit a two-run homer and Michael Cuddyer, who scored the winning run, went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI for Minnesota, which took the final three games of the series and has won four of five.

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