Twins bash three homers, rout Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The standings say the Minnesota Twins are the worst team in the American League. However, the Los Angeles Angels will give the Twins a run for their money if they play more games like the one they played Monday night at Angel Stadium.
The Twins got home runs from Trevor Plouffe, Byron Buxton and Robbie Grossman and a serviceable performance from starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco to beat the Angels 9-4.
The Angels, meanwhile, pitched poorly, fielded poorly (three errors) and hit meekly while losing for the seventh time in their past eight games.
The Twins (20-43) still have the worst record in the league, but they are 4-0 against the Angels, adding Monday's win to a sweep at Target Field in April.
The Angels (27-37) are sliding swiftly in the AL West. They are 12 games behind the Texas Rangers in the division and are now 10 games under .500 for the first time since Aug. 31, 2013, when they were 62-72.
Angels starter Jered Weaver (5-6) entered the game with a 5.56 ERA, and it went up to 5.71 after he gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks in six innings.
Nolasco (3-4) was far from dominant, but he kept the Angels hitters at bay, giving up three runs on seven hits and one walk in six innings.
The Angels' three errors were made by the middle infield. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella committed a throwing error on a potential double-play ball in the third inning, which was costly because it preceded a three-run homer by Plouffe.
Shortstop Gregorio Petit was charged with the other two errors, both coming in the seventh inning when the Twins essentially put the game away, increasing a 6-3 lead to 9-3.
Giavotella had four hits for the Angels, including a home run in the ninth inning, but the rest of the club was 4-for-29.
Eduardo Nunez led off the game for the Twins with a single and a steal of second. A balk by Weaver allowed Nunez to go to third, and he scored on a single by Joe Mauer to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
The Angels tied at on an RBI single by Shane Robinson in the second, but the Twins quickly untied it in the top of the third. Weaver might have gotten out of the inning unscathed but Giavotella threw the ball away on a potential double-play grounder hit by Mauer.
Instead, Plouffe followed with a three-run homer and 4-1 Twins lead.
The Angels pushed across two runs in the fourth after Giavotella and Todd Cunningham began the inning with a single and double, respectively.
Giavotella scored on a sacrifice fly by Gregorio Petit and Cunningham scored on an RBI groundout by Carlos Perez to cut the Twins' lead to 4-3.
The Twins, though, scored again off Weaver in the fifth to go up 5-3 when Grossman led off with a single, took third on a single by Mauer and scored when Plouffe hit into a double play.
NOTES: Angels CF Mike Trout was the club's designated hitter, one day after suffering a bruised right thumb when hit by a pitch in Sunday's game against Cleveland. He went 1-for-4 Monday. ... Angels RHP Tim Lincecum will start one of the club's games this weekend in Oakland, likely Saturday. Lincecum made his third and final rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. ... The Twins activated RHP Neil Ramirez one day after claiming him off waivers from Milwaukee. Twins J.T. Chargois was optioned to Triple-A Rochester. ... Angels RHP Corey Rasmus (strained groin) was placed on the disabled list. The club also designated LHP David Huff for assignment and called up RHP Al Alburquerque and RHP A.J. Achter from Salt Lake. ... Twins 1B Joe Mauer (2-for-5) has reached base safely by hit or walk in a major-league-leading 25 consecutive games.