Nick Blackburn

The Twins got swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a day/night doubleheader Thursday. Ben Zobrist had 4 hits and drove in 8 runs in the game 1 for the Rays. Michael Cuddyer was 2-3 with a homerun for the Twins and Nick Blackburn allowed 8 hits and 5 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings to take the loss and drop to 1-4. The Twins lost 6-1 to Tampa Bay in the nightcap. Jeff Niemann threw 7 innings with 2 hits and 1 earned run allowed to get the win.

The Twins lost 5-4 in Baltimore Wednesday night. Minnesota fell behind 5-1 before scoring 2 runs in the 6th inning and adding 1 more run in the 8th. Danny Valencia led the Twins at the plate going 2-4 with 3 RBIs, Jason Kubel was 2-4 with a run scored and Michael Cuddyer hit his first homerun this season.

The Twins lost 4-2 in Atlanta in 10 innings in an exhibition game Tuesday night. Mauro Gomez hit a 2-run homerun off Chuck James in the 10th inning to win the game. Atlanta scored 2 unearned runs off Matt Capps in the 9th inning to force extra innings. Nick Blackburn threw 4 shutout innings to start the game for the Twins and Minnesota managed just 5 hits in the game.

The Twins downed the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 Thursday afternoon in Clearwater, Florida. Nick Blackburn threw 6 shutout innings with 6 hits allowed and 5 strikeouts. Joe Nathan threw just 1 inning and allowed 3 hits and 3 earned runs for Minnesota.