Minnesota designated hitter Jose Miranda established a club record with his 10th consecutive hit on Friday in the Twins' 13-12 loss to the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series that continues on Saturday in Minneapolis. After recording a hit in his final at-bat on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers, Miranda went 5-for-5 against the Tigers on Thursday before going 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, missing out on the Twins' seven-run frame. "These are all very good swings," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.
"We're not talking about a guy that ...
got a bunch of seeing-eye singles and softly hit balls. As far as I can remember all these swings are just terrific swings. He's having great at-bats that are leading to the swings.
He's laying off the tough pitches and when he gets a pitch to hit, he's hitting a line drive somewhere hard. "I don't want to talk too much about it anymore and I'm not talking to him about it. I just keep patting him on the back and letting him work.
" Right-hander Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.21 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Twins on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision of a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
It marked the second time this season that Ryan has produced double-digit strikeouts. Ryan has not recorded a decision in his last three starts, posting a 3.06 ERA and .
711 .