A night after literally throwing the game away at Miller Park, the Twins managed to complete the season series against the Brewers with just one loss, taking five out of six from their border-sharing rival.
Minnesota initiated the scoring in the fourth inning on Justin Morneau’s single to right to score Denard Span from second for his 58th RBI of the year. After a single by Jason Kubel loaded the bases, Milwaukee starter Mike Burns (0-1, 3.72 ERA) would eventually walk Michael Cuddyer to score Brendan Harris. The Twins would tack on two more in consecutive innings – one in the fifth on a Harris sacrifice fly following Span’s lead-off triple and the other in the sixth on Joe Crede’s 11th home run on the season – before the Brewers were able to get on the scoreboard.
Scott Baker (5-6, 5.17 ERA) held Milwaukee scoreless through the first five innings before a lead-off walk in the sixth to second baseman Craig Counsell was followed by a home run by third baseman Casey McGehee. After retiring Ryan Braun on a strike out, Prince Fielder hit his 18th home run of the year closing the Twins lead to one. With the pair of home runs, Baker has allowed 17 home runs on the season, tying Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie for the American League lead. Baker has pitched markedly better since the beginning of June. In his first nine starts of the year, Baker possessed a 3-6 record with a 6.32 ERA in 52.2 inning of work. Since then he’s started five games and compiled a 3-0 record with a 3.43 ERA.
Joe Mauer’s ground-rule double in the top of the seventh brought home Harris to bring the Twins’ run total to six. The recent cover boy of Sport Illustrated has had a rough week – at least by his standards. Coming into Thursday’s game, Mauer was just 4-for-24 (.167 batting average) since June 17th. His 2-for-5 day raises his batting average to .395.
The Brewers would score once more in the eighth on Ryan Braun’s solo home run off of reliever Matt Guerrier. Closer Joe Nathan would pick up his 17th save, shutting the Brewers down in order in the ninth.
The Twins travel to St. Louis where Kevin Slowey (10-2, 4.04 ERA) will match up against Albert Pujols and the rest of the Cardinals Friday night.
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[...] For more on the game, be sure to read Parker’s Game Recap at BaseballDigest.com. [...]