Danny Valencia Loves Target Field

Minneapolis - Danny Valencia is a rookie who doesn't lack confidence. Consider the T-shirt the proud University of Miami product was wearing after the game, blaring "The 'U' invented swagger" on the front.

Minnesota's up-and-coming third baseman couldn't have expected to do this well, though.

Valencia's one-out single in the 10th inning drove in Michael Cuddyer from second base and gave the Twins a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

Valencia is batting .332 with 16 doubles, two homers and 24 RBIs in 208 at-bats, one of a handful of first-year players thrust into action this season.

"We need 'em. That's for sure. Especially now, with all the injuries we've had to endure in the past two months," Cuddyer said. "For him to come up and fill in nicely is huge."

The Twins kept their four-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central, improving to 7-1 against the Tigers at Target Field, despite nine strikeouts and only four hits allowed in a career-high nine innings by Detroit starter Max Scherzer.

With the hard-throwing Ryan Perry (2-5) pitching, Cuddyer singled to start the inning and stole second base while Delmon Young struck out. Then Valencia, whose single in the fifth helped the Twins score their first run against Scherzer, smacked a single to center on a 3-2 count that was deep enough for Cuddyer to score standing up just before the throw from Austin Jackson.

"I knew I'd be able to play up here obviously, but to do this well it's pretty surreal," Valencia said. "I'm just happy the way it's going right now."



(myfoxtwincities.com)