twins/mlb
La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts. Mark Rosen borrows him occasionally for WCCO-TV.
Twins-Pirates: Looking back, and ahead
Posted by: La Velle E. Neal III Updated: June 20, 2012 - 11:45 AM
LOOKING BACK
Lefthander Scott Diamond seemed to be a revelation a couple weeks ago, but he has given up four earned runs in each of his last two outings - including last night against the Pirates.
Diamond retired eight straight at one point but was knocked out of the game in the sixth inning. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, whose bullpen was still recovering from nine innings of work on Sunday, said Diamond did enough to get the game in the later innings.
Diamond, however, is not settling for sixth-inning departures, One thing he's been consistent about since being called up last month is not making excuses. He was the same way after Tuesday's game.
"I definitely was battling all night," he said. "I just really wasn't executing that well. I left a lot of pitches over the middle and up, and when that happens you get hit pretty hard. It showed tonight. It's definitely going to be a week of adjustments, getting ready for Cincy.
"I think I was leaking a little bit, pulling off. Because of it I was casting off a little bit. With my offspeed especially. And my fastball stayed up because of it."
LOOKING AHEAD
It will be interesting to see what Twins manager Ron Gardenhire does with first baseman Justin Morneau tonight.
Morneau is 6-for-64 against left-handed pitchers this season (.094). For his career, he's batting .251 against lefties. Do you let Morneau work through his issue with lefties or consider giving him a break?
Before you answer, consider this: Morneau is batting .407 (11-for-27) with two home runs against Bedard. Could Bedard be Morneau's lefty Huckleberry?
What about Joe Mauer and his quad? If he's not ready to play, should Morneau also not start? It will be interesting to find out.
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| Baltimore - WP: F. Garcia | 6 | FINAL |
| Toronto - LP: R. Dickey | 5 |
| Cleveland - LP: V. Pestano | 4 | FINAL |
| Boston - WP: J. Tazawa | 7 |
| LA Angels - WP: B. Buckner | 7 | FINAL |
| Kansas City - LP: J. Guthrie | 0 |
| Colorado - LP: R. Betancourt | 5 | FINAL |
| San Francisco - WP: S. Romo | 6 |
| Minnesota - WP: P. Walters | 3 | FINAL |
| Detroit - LP: D. Fister | 2 |
| Chicago Cubs - LP: T. Wood | 2 | FINAL |
| Cincinnati - WP: H. Bailey | 5 |
| Pittsburgh - WP: J. Locke | 5 | FINAL |
| Milwaukee - LP: M. Fiers | 2 |
| NY Yankees - WP: I. Nova | 4 | FINAL |
| Tampa Bay - LP: J. Lueke | 3 |
| Atlanta - WP: A. Varvaro | 7 | FINAL |
| NY Mets - LP: B. Lyon | 5 |
| Philadelphia - WP: C. Durbin | 5 | FINAL |
| Washington - LP: D. Storen | 3 |
| St. Louis - LP: S. Maness | 3 | FINAL |
| Los Angeles - WP: P. Rodriguez | 5 |
| Miami - LP: R. Webb | 1 | FINAL |
| Chicago WSox - WP: J. Peavy | 2 |
| Oakland - WP: A. Griffin | 11 | FINAL |
| Houston - LP: L. Harrell | 5 |
| Atlanta - WP: M. Minor | 6 | FINAL |
| NY Mets - LP: D. Gee | 0 |
| San Diego | 9 | Bottom 8th Inning |
| Arizona | 4 |
| Texas | 5 | Bottom 7th Inning |
| Seattle | 2 |
| San Antonio | 104 | FINAL |
| Memphis | 93 |
| Philadelphia | 3 | FINAL |
| Montreal | 5 |
| Portland | 2 | FINAL |
| D.C. | 0 |
| Toronto FC | 0 | FINAL |
| New England | 2 |
| San Jose | 0 | FINAL |
| FC Dallas | 1 |
| Chicago | 1 | FINAL |
| Real Salt Lake | 1 |
| Chivas USA | 0 | FINAL |
| Colorado | 2 |
| New York | 69 | FINAL |
| Connecticut | 81 |
| Tulsa | 81 | FINAL |
| Atlanta | 98 |
- Hartman: Youngsters are lined up to give Twins a boost
- Souhan: Look within for starting pitchers, or do without
- Mauer, Walters spark Twins in Detroit to end 10-game slide
- Postgame: Bad calls, close calls and Mauer
- Twins notes: Rangers claim Benson off waivers
- Walters starts today vs. Detroit; Benson claimed by Texas
- MLB Insider: Thielbar's success story proof that Twins, Saints can co-exist
- Twins notes: Arcia sent down; Walters to start Saturday
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