Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbooks) - Ryan Zimmerman belted a three-run homer and Levale Speigner threw six solid innings as the
Washington Nationals edged the
Minnesota Twins, 3-1, in the second game of a three-game set at the Metrodome.
Speigner ( 2-2), a former member of the Twins organization, allowed just one run on two hits, while walking one and striking out three. Ray King, Jesus Colome and Jon Rauch blanked the Twins for two innings and Chad Cordero recorded the final three outs for his eighth save of the season.
Cristian Guzman, also a former Twin, had three hits for the Nationals, who have won three of four overall and seven of their last eight road games.
Johan Santana (6-6) went seven frames, surrendering three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits. He walked none and struck out five for the Twins, who have lost six of seven.
Justin Morneau hit his 17th homer of the season and Lew Ford had two hits for Minnesota, which finished with just five hits.
Morneau's lead-off homer to center in the second put Minnesota on the board, but Washington responded with three in the third.
Nook Logan reached first on Nick Punto's fielding error and stole second before Felipe Lopez struck out. Guzman followed with a single to center, putting runners on first and third for Zimmerman, who's shot into the left- field seats gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead.
Minnesota threatened in the ninth. Michael Cuddyer led off with a single to center off Cordero, who struck out Morneau and Torii Hunter before Ford kept the inning alive with a single to right. Cordero, though, got Jason Tyner to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Game Notes
Twins' outfielder Jason Kubel left the game with a sprained right knee. He was to be re-evaluated Sunday...Cordero's save was the 99th of his career...Washington is guaranteed its third consecutive series win away from home...Speigner had a 14.44 ERA over his four previous starts...Guzman is 23- for-39 over his last nine games. He has raised his average to .352...The Twins were born as the original Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota in 1961...Attendance was 39,742.
