Twins End 11-Game Skid On Tosoni's Double In 9th
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rene Tosoni hit an RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning and the Minnesota Twins snapped their 11-game losing streak, beating the Seattle Mariners 3-2 Thursday.
The Twins avoided another sweep and won for just the second time in 17 games. This was the third-longest skid in Minnesota's 51-season history, behind a 14-game slide in 1982 and a 13-game drought in 1961, the first year the franchise moved from Washington.
Trevor Plouffe drew a two-out walk from Steve Delabar (1-1) and Tosoni followed with a drive that hopped off the right-field wall. Plouffe slid home, easily beating the relay.
Tosoni had three hits and scored twice. The rookie began the day batting .174 in his first big league season.
Joe Nathan (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win after getting out of his own trouble. The Mariners stranded 12 runners, including the potential go-ahead run at third in the ninth when Wily Mo Pena flied out.
It was another close game between the two teams. The Mariners won the first two games of the series by 5-4 scores and both teams had their chances late in this one.
Ichiro Suzuki grounded back to reliever Glen Perkins with the bases loaded to end the Seattle eighth.
The Twins threatened in the bottom half before Michael Cuddyer hit into a double play against Delabar.
Mariners starter Blake Beavan, acquired from Texas along with Justin Smoak in the Cliff Lee trade in 2010, pitched seven innings, giving up two runs and six hits.
After what Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire called a "flop" in his last start, Anthony Swarzak came back with a six strong innings for the Twins, allowing two runs on nine hits.
NOTES: Minnesota C Drew Butera's RBI single in the fifth inning snapped a personal 0-for-21 stretch. It was the first hit by a Twins catcher since Sept. 9, a string of 27 at-bats. ... Seattle OF Casper Wells (nose) was going to see a doctor Thursday to further diagnose what is giving him sinus trouble. He's expected to be with the team this weekend for a series at Texas. ... Minnesota OF Denard Span (concussion) sat out after playing Wednesday for the first time since Aug. 13. Span told trainer Rick McWane he would prepare to play in Friday's game at Cleveland. ... Seattle C Chris Gimenez snapped an 0-for-13 streak with hits in his first two at-bats. ... Seattle LHP Anthony Vasquez (1-4, 8.25) will be making his sixth career start on Friday in the opener at Texas. Vasquez lasted just three-plus innings in his last start also against Texas. He gave up five runs and seven hits and allowed home runs to Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus. ... Minnesota RHP Carl Pavano (8-13, 4.40) will make Friday's start for the Twins in Cleveland. Pavano has lost his last two starts, including Sept. 18 against the Indians when he gave four runs -- one earned -- in 6 2-3 innings. Pavano is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in four starts against Cleveland this season.
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