Triple Play? Nice Try Span

The Minnesota Twins weren't able to avoid the sweep from the Boston Red Sox Wednesday after seventh-inning umpire-related shenanigans turned an incorrectly called triple play into a seven-run fiasco which led to an 18-5 man-handling of the Twins.

Jacoby Ellsbury nailed a career-high four hits, while Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Sean Casey had three a piece to aid Boston in their season-best 23-hit game.

Livan Hernandez is a Big Boy

Sans veteran ace Johan Santana, youngster Matt Garza and Carlos Silva, the Minnesota Twins agreed Tuesday to a one-year, $5 million contract with Livan Hernandez, who hopes to earn an extra $2 million in performance bucks.

Not only does he spike the collective age of the young Twins rotation, but he also brings experience and even some talent. And he's El Duque's half-brother, so that's cool.

Last season, the Cuban righty... who turns 33 on February 20th and is totally single, ladies... went 11-11 with a 4.93 ERA in 33 starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a two-time All-Star with 10 big league seasons under his belt, Hernandez is a career 134-128 with a 4.25 ERA spanning 350 starts, including 32 complete games, which leads the majors. He's a workhorse.

The question is, are Smith and Gardy planning a weight-loss intervention like they did with Boof?

Welcome to the American League, Livan!

[Pioneer Press]

Squeeze Play

vs.

It'll be a heated battle between two guys with initials for first names tonight when right-hander A.J. Burnett takes the hill for the Toronto Blue Jays (13-12), opening a three-game series against C.C. Sabathia and the Cleveland Indians (14-8) at 7:05pm ET.

The Tribe is 5-0 when Sabathia has started this season, but the lefty has not gotten a W since defeating the Chicago White Sox on April 15th. He is a career 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in four home starts against the Jays.