Slowey picks apart Tribe for 12th win

9/12/2010
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — Kevin Slowey earned his first win in nearly a month and the Twins won their 4,000th game since the franchise moved to Minnesota, 6-2 over Cleveland Sunday.

Slowey (12-6) gave up two runs over five innings in his second start since being sidelined with a strained right triceps. The right-hander had not won since beating Oakland on Aug. 15, when he was lifted after seven no-hit innings.

The original Washington franchise moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season and became the Twins, which took two of three in the series. They have won eight of nine and are have baseball's best record since the All-Star break at 39-16. The AL Central leaders will open a three-game series in Chicago against the second-place White Sox on Tuesday.

Minnesota took a 5-0 lead in the first inning on a walk, stolen base, four singles, error, wild pitch and sacrifice fly against Mitch Talbot (9-12) and emergency reliever Justin Masterson.

Talbot left after only 14 pitches with shoulder inflammation. He walked leadoff batter Denard Span on five pitches.