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(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Season Record: 28-29

Up Next: Mariners (3:10 CT, 6/7)

A night after winning a one-run game in Seattle, the Twins dropped one. On Friday the Twins took advantage of an error by the Mariners to win 2-1, and less than 24 hours later, the Mariners used two eighth inning hits to knock off the Twins by the exact same score. Nick Blackburn turned in another quality start for Minnesota, but a lack of offense moved the Twins league-worst road record to 7-17. 

Entering the outing with three consecutive quality starts and a rotation-best ERA, Nick Blackburn didn't disappoint. The sudden team ace turned in his eighth quality start of the season with seven strong innings. Through seven innings, Blackburn allowed only one run on six hits while walking one and striking out one. Blackburn lowered his ERA to 3.30 in 12 starts. 

The one-run performance was wasted by the offense as they outhit the Mariners with nine hits but continued their lack of clutch hitting on the road. The Twins went just one for seven with runners in scoring position and struck out ten times, including four times looking. 

The wasted opportunities began in the third inning when the Twins loaded the bases with just one out. Justin Morneau swung at two pitches nearly in the dirt, and after working the count even against lefty starter Jarrod Washburn, Morneau went down swinging at a breaking ball. The opportunity was still in place for Minnesota with two outs and third basemen Joe Crede at the plate, but Delmon Young attempted to score on a wild pitch and was thrown out; Crede would single to lead off the next inning. 

The Twins wasted opportunities in several innings as they left a total of 16 runners on base. Their final missed chance came in the ninth inning after Redmond walked and Buscher reached on an infield single. With two outs, runners on the corners and the Twins down just one run, Denard Span ended his dreadful day with a groundout. 

A day after getting back to the .500 the Twins fell back below it with a loss to forget. The Twins still have eight games remaining in their road trip, and in the next four they'll face lefties. The pitching staff has started the trip in the right direction, the offense however will wait another day.