Interleague play has proven a mixed bag for the Washington Nationals. After sweeping the Mariners three straight in Seattle, the Nationals were promptly swept three straight by the Twins in Minnesota. The Nats will return home to face the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Baltimore Orioles in three-game sets to close out their June slate of American League competition.
The success of Seattle was quickly spoiled in Minnesota, as the Twins outscored the Nationals 22-6 over the three games. The opening tilt of the series was a close affair, with the Nats taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a Christian Guzman RBI single before the Twins got two in the sixth on a Justin Morneau two-run homer. Joe Nathan nailed down the 2-1 win for the Twins, notching his 18th save.
The second game was relatively close early, as the Twins only enjoyed a 3-1 lead through six innings. But Minnesota got two runs in the seventh off reliever Saul Rivera and then added six more in the eighth, with the big blow being a two-run double from Delmon Young. The Nats committed three errors to help the Twins to the lopsided 11-2 victory.
Minnesota completed the sweep with a decisive 9-3 triumph in the finale. The game was 3-2 until the Twins blew it open with four runs in the fourth, getting two runs courtesy of a Michael Cuddyer triple. Shawn Hill, who's been trying to pitch through a forearm injury, took the loss for Washington, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs in 3.2 innings.
