LHP Scott Diamond gave up his first runs of the season, but got his third win in as many starts after pitching 5 1/3 innings against the Brewers on Friday night. Diamond allowed three runs on eight hits, but only walked one batter and induced nine groundouts.
C Ryan Doumit took batting practice before the Twins’ game with the Brewers on Friday, and manager Ron Gardenhire said Doumit’s strained right calf had improved to the point he was able to pinch hit. “He’s chomping at the bit,” Gardenhire said. “As long as he doesn’t just take off flying out of the box, it’s fine. But his leg feels really good.”
RHP Carl Pavano said the soft-tissue therapy he received on his right shoulder this week might help him avoid pitching with a cortisone shot. Pavano skipped the team’s two-game road trip to Detroit to work with a specialist in Minneapolis, and consulted with Dr. David Altchek, who has operated on his arm in the past. He is scheduled to pitch for the Twins on Saturday in Milwaukee, and said his shoulder is improving slowly. Pavano has been unable to throw more than 75 pitches in any of his last three outings.
OF Josh Willingham hit his eighth homer of the season, blasting a two-run shot off Marco Estrada in the first inning of the Twins’ win over the Brewers. He is 15-for-36 in his last nine games at Miller Park, and has homered three times in that stretch. His other two homers came on July 27, 2009, when he hit two grand slams in the same game as a member of the Nationals.
OF Denard Span was back in the Twins lineup on Friday after missing the team’s last three games with a sore hamstring. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Span felt fine while fielding fly balls during early batting practice, and put him back in the leadoff spot for Friday’s win over the Brewers. Span went 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI.
