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.
