Morneau Blasts Twins Past Royals

Ex-National Leaguer improves to 3-0 for first time since 2002

(NEWSER) - Livan Hernandez scattered seven hits over seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Friday. He struck out three and walked one, lowered his earned run average to 2.57, and is 3-0 for the first time since 2002, when he won his first four starts for San Francisco. More»

(NEWSER) - Livan Hernandez baffled Detroit's mighty offense for seven innings and the Twins beat up the Tigers in an 11-1 victory last night. Hernandez (4-1) gave up one run on eight hits to bounce back from a horrendous start in Texas, and the Twins scored four runs off Aquilino Lopez in the seventh inning to get some breathing room in their third straight win. More»

Blackburn throws 7 2/3 scoreless innings for his first Major League win

(NEWSER) - Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer for the power-poor Minnesota Twins, and Nick Blackburn made it stand up with 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians today. Blackburn (1-1) earned his first major league win with veteran poise by using the defense behind him to escape a couple of jams. Joe Nathan posted his sixth save in as many attempts with a perfect ninth. More»

Kubel homers, Bonser pitches 6 scoreless innings

(NEWSER) - Boof Bonser pitched six innings and Jason Kubel homered and scored twice, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 victory and a second straight shutout over the punchless Kansas City Royals last night. Bonser (1-2) did not give up a hit until Ross Gload singled with one out in the fifth. Constantly blowing into his hands as the wind chill registered in the mid-30s, the right-hander allowed three hits, two walks, and struck out four. More»

Dodgers castoff a winner in first start of the season

(NEWSER) - Brett Tomko pitched five shutout innings, Alex Gordon hit a two-run single that put Kansas City ahead in the second inning, and the Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-1. Kansas City finished its opening trip to Detroit and Minnesota 4-2, its best start since 2004. Making his first start this season, Tomko allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one. More»