CLEVELAND (AP) ― Now that the Minnesota Twins are winning, they hope they haven’t lost Joe Mauer for long.
The former AL MVP and three-time batting champion sprained his right thumb and left the Twins’ 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, Minnesota’s fifth victory in six games following a five-game losing streak.
“Hopefully I’ll be back in there soon,” said Mauer, who singled home Minnesota’s first run and later walked and scored. “They (trainers) assured me I’m day to day.”
Cleveland Indians right fielder Choo Shin-soo hits a double against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. The Korean went 2 for 4 to lift his batting average to .270. (AFP-Yonhap News)
The four-time All-Star played only 82 games a year ago because of a leg injury, but has missed only one game this year.
Mauer got hurt while striking out in the seventh inning and was lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth.
“I fouled a pitch back and felt it,” said Mauer, hitting .298 in 52 games. “It was barking pretty good, so I got some ice on it.”
Scott Diamond (4-1) cooled off Cleveland bats, allowing three unearned runs and seven hits without a walk over seven innings.
In six starts since being recalled from the minors May 8, he has walked only four.
Matt Capps pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances as Minnesota, last in the AL Central, took two of three in the series.
Josh Willingham had two RBIs and Alexi Casilla hit two sacrifice flies for the Twins, who got five infield hits, including three bunt singles. Minnesota won despite making three errors.
Jeter, A-Rod go deep
DETROIT (AP) ― Derek Jeter stepped in and homered on the first pitch of the game, giving the Yankees an early breakthrough against Justin Verlander.
Then Phil Hughes took the mound and actually outpitched the Detroit ace.
“Phil deserves all the credit. He was pretty impressive today,” Jeter said. “He just came after people.”
Alex Rodriguez also connected against Verlander, and Hughes pitched a four-hitter to lead New York to a 5-1 victory over the Tigers on Sunday.
Hughes threw his first career complete game of nine innings ― last Aug. 2 he went all six innings in a rain-shortened win over the White Sox.
Hughes (5-5) struck out eight and walked three. He threw a career-high 123 pitches.
“It feels great. The big thing here has been pitch count and not going very deep into games,” Hughes said.
“My fastball was staying more true, had some good life on it. I just felt a lot better overall.”
Toronto 5, Boston 1
Atlanta 3, Washington 2
Miami 5, Philadelphia 1
Tampa Bay 8, Baltimore 4
Houston 5, Cincinnati 3
Chicago White Sox 4, Seattle 2
Kansas City 2, Oakland 0
Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 5
Colorado 3, LA Dodgers 2
Texas 7, LA Angels 3
San Francisco 2, Chicago Cubs 0
Arizona 6, San Diego 0
NY Mets 6, St. Louis 1