Minnesota @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2010 ) Minnesota 1, Seattle 0
Easy as 1-2-3. The Minnesota Twins sure hope so as they try to sweep the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.
The Twins also will try to win six consecutive games over the Mariners, something they have not done since 1979.
Nick Blackburn threw 8 2/3 innings of two-hit ball before new reliever Brian Fuentes got the final out for his 24th save in the Twins’ 1-0 shutout of the Mariners on Saturday afternoon.
Minnesota moved 4½ games ahead of the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central lead.
Blackburn gave up two hits in the first innings then retired 23 of the next 24 he faced.
Blackburn had lost seven of his last eight decisions but was spectacular against the Mariners, who have been shut out a league-high 12 times.
The left-handed Fuentes was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Manager Ron Gardenhire plans to use Fuentes mainly as a setup man, but used him against left-handed hitter Russell Branyan. He fanned Branyan on four pitches.
Minnesota looks to right-hander Carl Pavano (15-9, 3.56) to sweep the Mariners, who will counter with lefty Luke French (2-4, 4.57).
Pavano has lost back-to-back starts and given up an uncharacteristic 23 hits in 14 innings.
He has thrown 182 innings and six complete games. He lost to the Mariners 4-1 on June 3, allowing four runs on eight hits in seven innings.
French’s performances have varied wildly. In his two victories, he has a 0.57 ERA, but in his losses his ERA is 6.88. He lost to the Twins on Aug. 1, allowing four runs in six innings.
French was at his worst last Sunday, giving up five runs and five walks in five innings of a 10-0 loss to the New York Yankees.
Minnesota’s Danny Valencia has hit safely in all six games he has played against Seattle in his career. He is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a triple, double and three RBIs.
Ichiro Suzuki, who saw a 10-game hitting streak end Saturday, is the only Mariner hitting above .250. Suzuki hits .309.
The Twins had two players leave Saturday’s game.
Second baseman Orlando Hudson left in the first inning with a sprained right ankle but could play today.
Designated hitter Jim Thome left in the fourth inning with lower back stiffness. He remains one home run behind Mark McGwire for ninth all-time with 582.