=== Minnesota Twins Team Report - July 20 === (My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Twins try to get closer to the top of the American League Central this evening when they wrap up a brief two-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. In the series-opener on Monday, Jose Offerman stroked a pinch-hit, two-run single in the seventh inning to lift Minnesota to a 3-1 win. Lew Ford contributed two hits and Justin Morneau drove in a run for the Twins, who won for just the second time in their last eight games and remained a half-game back of the Chicago White Sox in the division. Terry Mulholland pitched 6 2/3 solid innings of one-run ball for the win. Mulholland (2-3), whose last start was July 8 versus Detroit, allowed four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. J.C. Romero tossed a perfect one-third of an inning and Juan Rincon hurled one shutout frame before Joe Nathan posted his 25th save in the ninth. Heading to the hill tonight for the Twins will be righthander Kyle Lohse, who is 3-7 on the season with a 4.74 earned run average. He is coming off a loss to the Kansas City Royals in his last start, as he allowed three runs on eight hits over five frames. Lohse, who received a no-decision against the Tigers earlier in the year, is 5-1 lifetime against them with a 4.06 ERA in nine starts. Detroit has won seven of its 14 matchups with the Twins this season, after losing 15 of the 19 meetings a season ago. Minnesota has lost two of four in the Motor City this season, but has won 21 of its last 32 there. The Twins have posted a 23-21 road mark. |
