The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 26-28

Up Next: Indians (12:10 CT, 6/4)

It wasn't quite as easy for Anthony Swarzak in his third trip to the mound; after breezing through his previous two outings rather easily, Swarzak hit his first road-bump in the majors. The 23-year old rookie lasted only four innings, allowing nine hits and five runs as the Twins fell to the Cleveland Indians 10-1 in the second game of a three-game set at the Metrodome. 

(AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Season Record: 25-27

Up Next: Indians (7:10 CT, 6/2)

1. Blackburn Keeps Rolling

(AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Season Record: 24-26

Up Next: Rays (3:05 CT, 5/30)

1. Five Strong Innings

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 21-23

Up Next: Brewers (7:05 CT, 5/24)

1. Swarzak Impressive

They say that the first impression means everything; for Anthony Swarzak, his first gig in the bigs couldn't have went any better. After an injury to starter Glen Perkins, the Twins opted to make the call to Triple-A Rochester for Swarzak, a highly touted prospect who posted a 2.25 ERA in seven starts.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 20-23

Up Next: Brewers (6:10 CT, 5/23)

1. Slowey Speeding Up

After a slow start to the season, Kevin Slowey has heated up recently. In his most recent start, Slowey held the New York Yankees, one of the best hitting lineups in the league, to two runs over 7.2 innings. Prior to that outing, Slowey went six innings and allowed only one run against another top lineup, the Detroit Tigers.

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Season Record: 19-23

Up Next: Brewers (7:10 CT, 5/21)

1. Blanks for Blackburn

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Season Record: 18-20

Up Next: Yankees (7:05 CT, 5/17)

1. Fix the Bullpen

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Season Record: 18-19

Up Next: Yankees (12:05 CT, 5/17)

1. Working with Walks

In the first game of a four game series with the New York Yankees, lefty Francisco Liriano took the mound. Liriano, a pitcher now two years removed from Tommy John Surgery, has pitched very inconsistently early on in the '09 season. At times the once dominant pitcher has looked like an ace, and at other times he has struggled to compose himself.

(AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Season Record: 16-17

Up Next: Tigers (7:10 CT, 5/13)

1. Collecting the Victories

The win didn't come without challenges, but after working out of several tough jams in his six inning outing, Kevin Slowey collected his fifth victory of the season. The fifth win is a welcome sign for Slowey, a pitcher who did well last season, but with little run support, won only 12 games instead of what some say could have been closer to 20.

(AP Photo/ Jim Mone)

Season Record: 15-17

Up Next: Tigers (7:10 CT, 5/12)

1. Bullpen Blowup

One thing kept the Minnesota Twins from the playoffs last season -- the bullpen. With a group of pitchers unable to collect any sort of outs last season, a long outing by the starting pitchers was often wasted and instead turned into a beating. The bullpen was consistent, but is was a consistency of allowing runs and blowing games.