Weaver takes aim at the Twins again; Willingham not in the lineup

The Angels righthander will try to become the first pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters since Johnny Vander Meer in 1938. Minnesota will go without Josh Willingham.

May 8, 2012 at 12:15AM
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter against the Twins on Wednesday, winning 9-0.
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver threw a no-hitter against the Twins on Wednesday, winning 9-0. (Stan Schmidt — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

When Jered Weaver no-hit the Twins last Wednesday, they went with a lineup of Denard Span, Alexi Casilla, Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Chris Parmelee, Trevor Plouffe, Clete Thomas and Jamey Carroll.

Willingham is not in the lineup. Will have an update on that ASAP. Erik Komatsu is in left field and Brian Dozier is at shortstop, batting second.

Update: Willingham has a skin condition near his mouth, but should be available off the bench, GM Terry Ryan said. Alexi Casilla has a sore throwing shoulder. He injured himself on a dive in Seattle.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said with Dozier at shortstop, Carroll and Casilla will both move around, and both could play some third base, too.

From the Elias Sports Bureau: The Twins have 14 hits in the past five games (three hits on Tuesday, none on Wednesday, five on Friday and one on Saturday and five on Sunday). That ties Minnesota with the 1961 Red Sox (May 12-15) and 1993 Reds (Aug. 10-15) for the fewest hits for a major-league team over a five-game span during baseball's modern era (1900 to date).

ANGELS (12-17)

1. Maicer Izturis, SS
2. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Torii Hunter, RF
5. Mark Trumbo, DH
6. Howie Kendrick, 2B
7. Vernon Wells, LF
8. Chris Iannetta, C
9. Peter Bourjos, CF

Starting pitcher: Jered Weaver (4-0, 1.61 ERA)

TWINS (7-20)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Brian Dozier, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Ryan Doumit, DH
5. Danny Valencia, 3B
6. Chris Parmelee, 1B
7. Trevor Plouffe, RF
8. Erik Komatsu, LF
9. Jamey Carroll, 2B

Starting pitcher: LH Francisco Liriano (0-4, 9.97 ERA)

Target Field. First pitch: 7:10 p.m. FSN. Twins Radio Network

Follow us on Twitter: @JoeCStrib @LaVelleNeal @SouhanStrib

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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