[getty src=”487870781?et=Kto_XyjUSvpn1a4mU-RIEw&SeoLinks=on&sig=XnPXd_w8sr7KJjCnKye3xbeIqccy894CCBim3jTWUhY=” width=”480″ height=”400″]
The Twins lost their fourth straight game Friday night and shutout for the second time this season in a 3-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez was outstanding. He pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, Jimenez gave up just three hits. He picked up the win, while Tommy Hunter earned the save.
Twins starter Ricky Nolasco matched Jimenez early, keeping the Orioles quiet the first three innings. But in the fourth Baltimore’s Matt Wieters drove in Nelson Cruz to get the Orioles on the scoreboard.
The game stayed there until Cruz stepped up and crushed a two-run homer into left field.
Nelson Cruz with a two-run blast off Nolasco off the third deck in left field. Estimated at 424 feet. #MNTwins down 3-0
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 3, 2014
Nolasco did eat some innings for the Twins though. He threw his 10th complete game and his first since September of 2012.
Final: #Orioles 3, #MNTwins 0: Nolasco throws his 1st complete game since 9/9/12 but gets the loss. Twins shut out for 2nd time this year.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 3, 2014
That was needed after both starters Mike Pelfrey and Kris Johnson failed to get through five innings during Thursday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers.
Minnesota had a chances to score in both the eighth and ninth innings, but Joe Mauer struck out with two out and Eduardo Escobar standing on second.
Trevor Plouffe then led off the ninth with a double, but again Minnesota was not able to take advantage of it.
Mauer strikes out looking to end the 8th with a runner stranded on second base. #MNTwins trail 3-0 heading to the 9th.
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) May 3, 2014
Joe Mauer's now batting just .136 with runners in scoring position this year. He's 0-3 tonight with RISP. #MNTwins
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) May 3, 2014
The Twins and Orioles play in the second game of their series Saturday afternoon.
