Twins Lose 5-1, Get Swept

SEATTLE (AP) — Samuel Deduno has a sharp breaking ball and a lively fastball that can dart in different directions. The rookie right-hander is still working on his control.

Deduno issued a career-high six walks in the Minnesota Twins' 5-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, completing a three-game series sweep. He managed to last six innings and allowed just two runs and five hits, but the lack of control was costly.

"Sometimes I don't know what to say about the walks," Deduno said. "Too many people — just too much. It's part of the game but I have to be better than that. I walk six people. That's too much."

Deduno (4-1) began the day with 34 walks in 45 2-3 career innings, making him the first pitcher to go unbeaten in seven starts while issuing at least 30 walks since Tampa Bay's Victor Zambrano in 2004.

"Deduno was Deduno," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "A lot of walks and we're out there a long time playing defense. That never bodes well but he didn't break. He bent a little, getting himself in some messes but got out of it."

The Mariners held a slim 2-1 lead before Michael Saunders drove a 1-0 pitch from Jeff Gray over the wall in right in the seventh. Dustin Ackley, who led off with a double, was aboard for Saunders' career-best 11th homer.

Seattle (58-64) has won five straight to improve to 22-13 since the All-Star break. It has won 12 of 13 at Safeco Field.

The Mariners earned their first three-game home sweep against the Twins since July 27-29, 2001.

Blake Beavan (8-7) allowed one run and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings for Seattle. The right-hander struck out three and walked one while improving to 5-1 with a 3.74 ERA in his last seven starts.

Minnesota has lost five in a row.

Trevor Plouffe put the Twins in front with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, but the Mariners took advantage of Deduno's wildness to take the lead in the third.

Ackley reached on a leadoff walk and Saunders singled to center. Deduno then issued consecutive walks to Kyle Seager and John Jaso to force home a run. Jesus Montero bounced into a double play, allowing Saunders to score for a 2-1 lead.

"He's a good pitcher. His stuff is nasty," Mariners outfielder Eric Thames said. "His fastball is this way, that way, this way. It's tough to have an approach against a guy like that who is effectively wild."

Beavan said the Twins, known for patience and plate discipline, played into his hands.

"I'm not frustrated at all," he said. "I don't mind patient hitters. It's easier for me to get ahead. They fouled a lot of balls off today. They were patient but there were aggressive. I think a lot of guys change their approach when I face them."

The Twins were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 3 for 28 in the series.

"This series here, we scored six runs, I think. Six run in three days is not good enough." Gardenhire said. "We are just not clicking, not getting our hits when we're supposed to and we are missing opportunities."

The Twins finally chased Beavan in the sixth after one-out singles by Justin Morneau and Ryan Doumit. Carter Capps came in and walked Plouffe to load the bases, then struck out Matt Carson and retired Pedro Florimon to end the inning.

After Saunders' home run, the Mariners added one more in the seventh on Thames' RBI double.

NOTES: Twins general manager Terry Ryan is touring the minor leagues to determine candidates for September callups. "We're going to bring guys up who deserve it, not just because guys are on the roster. We've had too much of that," Gardenhire said. He said that pitching will be the priority. ... The Twins turned three double plays, adding to their major league lead of 148. ... The Twins were 3 for 28 with runners in scoring position for the series.

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