Tyler Duffey’s pitching sparks Twins to 8-1 victory over Angels

MINNEAPOLIS The Twins needed a stopper on Sunday to recharge their wild card hopes, and they got one from Tyler Duffey.

Duffey, the rookie right-hander, pitched seven strong innings to lead the Twins to an 8-1 win that helped them avoid an embarrassing four-game sweep at home with a playoff berth on the line.

The Twins get to enjoy an off day on Monday before opening their next “biggest series of the season” when they play host to Cleveland on Tuesday.

Torii Hunter gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run to left, his 21st of the season. After blowing a 5-0 first-inning lead on Thursday the Twins went 27 innings before leading the Angels again. This time, they didn’t give it back.

Duffey’s curveball was tough to hit once again as he held Los Angeles to three hits and one walk over seven innings, the second-longest outing of his career. He retired 11 of 12 batters at one point, and didn’t allow any Angel past first base. It was a pick-me-up for worn down pitching staff and a clubhouse trying to fight off frustration after losing the first three games of the series to drop behind the Angels in the wild card race.

Now the Twins have pulled back into a tie with the Angels, both teams 2 1/2 games behind Houston for the final wild card spot.

Cleveland, which won on Sunday, is just 1/12 games behind the Twins and Angels as the wild card race heads into the final two weeks of the season.

After Hunter put the Twins ahead, Eddie Rosario hit a two-run home run in the third to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. Rosario was batting in the No. 2 hole because the struggling Brian Dozier was given the day off.

Aaron Hicks added a RBI single in the fourth to make it 4-0. Eduardo Nunez and Hicks drew bases loaded walks in the fifth as the Twins moved to a 6-0 lead. And Joe Mauer added a two-run home run in eighth, his first home run in 32 games and 149 plate appearances.

The Twins lost the shutout in the ninth when Glen Perkins gave up a home run to Jeff Bandy, who was making just his second major league plate appearance.

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