Samuel Deduno pitched on Wednesday five days removed from his worst Major League start. The Twins really didn't need to ask for much to see an improvement from Deduno's last time out, which saw him get shelled for seven runs in only five innings against the Rangers.
But what Minnesota got wasn't simply an improvement -- it was a revelation.
He rebounded from the rough outing to shut down Seattle, throwing seven shutout innings to lead Minnesota to a 10-0 victory at Target Field. The win snapped the Twins' seven-game losing streak to the Mariners.
Deduno also snapped a personal two-game skid of his own while tossing the gem, which saw him surrender just two hits and strike out a career-high nine batters. The right-hander was fresh off allowing 11 hits to Texas on Aug. 24, including three of Adrian Beltre's hits for a cycle.
Ten runs felt like even more for Minnesota, which had scored just 10 runs in the seven straight defeats to the Mariners.
The Twins rediscovered some power to help the offensive surge after hitting only one homer in the previous 11 games. Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer in the fourth -- his 20th but first since July 3 -- to give his club a 5-0 lead. Josh Willingham's 32nd home run came the next inning on a solo shot.
Minnesota seized a 3-0 lead in the third inning with some assistance from Seattle starter Jason Vargas. Vargas walked Plouffe and Pedro Florimon to start the inning. Ben Revere struck out but Jamey Carroll followed with a single and Joe Mauer made Vargas pay the price with a double to score Plouffe and Florimon. Justin Morneau later added a two-out single to score Carroll.
Vargas left after only 4 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. He allowed an unearned run when Chris Parmelee reached on an error before scoring on Plouffe's home run.
Mauer again helped the Twins tack on to their lead in the seventh. A day after reportedly being placed on trade waivers, he started the frame with his second triple of the season before coming around to score on Willingham's sacrifice fly. Plouffe knocked in two additional runs with a two-out double.
Perhaps what was most impressive about Deduno's night were the walks -- or lack thereof. He recorded no walks, something he had never accomplished in nine Major League starts. Deduno had issued 37 free passes in 58 innings.
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