Minnesota Twins defeat Seattle Mariners 2-1 to stop nine-game losing streak - MLB Update
Michael Cuddyer hit early runs and Francisco Liriano tossed strong innings in the Minnesota Twins’ 2-1 success over the Seattle Mariners at the Safeco Park, Seattle on Tuesday, May 17, to help the club halt their nine-game losing streak.
With two bases loaded, the 32-year-old infielder Cuddyer hit a grounder to centre-field for an RBI lead-off double in the first inning to provide his club an early 2-0 advantage.
Getting a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning, provided the Twins’ starter Liriano some momentum. The 27-year-old ball thrower held the Mariners scoreless before allowing an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning. Except for this run, Liriano did not
gave away a single run to finish his seven innings spell, in which he made nine strike-outs to earn his third win of the season.
The Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire commented on Liriano’s performance and said, "That one inning fifth he got two quick outs then had a heck of a rough time getting out of it. Other than that, he was all over the zone making them swing the bats,” Gardenhire
further added. "There was a lot going on today. It was very emotional before the game and very emotional after the game. Tonight was kind of special for a lot of reasons."
Liriano was aware of the fact that he has to square the Mariners top pitcher Felix Hernandez.
Francisco said, "I think it going against Hernandez helped me stay focused, taking it one pitch at a time, one inning at a time,"
Glen Perkins relieved Liriano in the eighth inning and tossed a perfect inning to hold his sixth game in 2011. Perkins also made two strikes to increase his season record to twenty strike-outs with a 0.87 ERA. Closer Matt Capps threw scoreless last inning
to earn his sixth and the Club’s 13th win of the season.
Hernandez tossed eight innings and took out nine batters, but failed to grab his fifth win as he has allowed two runs on three hits and walked three on 109 pitches. He allowed just one hit after one out in the fourth and took out seven batters from the fifth
to the eighth inning. Hernandez now has 4-4 record with 3.23 ERA.
Closer Brandon League pitched a perfect ninth inning though, he remained helpless to snatch the game out of the Twins’ hands.
The Twins have played an overall 40 games and in 28 games, they have scored three or fewer runs. Out of these 28 games, the Twins could gather just four wins.
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