Joel Pineiro was ineffective for the fourth straight start, as the Angels were blasted by the Minnesota Twins 11-4 in the second game of a three-game series in Anaheim. The Twins pounded five home runs. Two of those came off Pineiro, who is on a terrible run of late.
Pineiro allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings tonight, though the last three were bequeathed to Hisanori Takahashi, who gave up a grand slam to Michael Cuddyer. In his last four starts, Pineiro has allowed these numbers: 29 hits, 24 runs (22 earned runs), six walks, and two strikeouts, all in just 13 1/3 innings. That's a 14.85 ERA and nearly three baserunners allowed per inning.
The Angels have an off day Monday, and Pineiro could and maybe should be a candidate to be skipped in the rotation.
A pair of Twins continued their amazing success against Pineiro tonight. Joe Mauer had an RBI single and a walk, and in his career has 15 hits in 22 at-bats off Pineiro, hitting .682/.731/1.000. Meanwhile, Delmon Young hit a two-run home run in the second inning off Pineiro, and hit a solo shot in the fourth. In his career, Young has faced Pineiro three times. Young has three home runs.
Tyler Chatwood faces Francisco Liriano in the series finale Thursday night.
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