MINNEAPOLIS – After an inconsistent season, Kyle Gibson is finishing strong.
Gibson matched a career high with eight strikeouts, Chris Parmelee hit a two-run single after entering the game for an injured Joe Mauer, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Tuesday night.
“Obviously, I’d like to have eight or 10 more of those kind of outings this year, but unfortunately, I didn’t,” Gibson said. “It’s been some ups and downs, that’s for sure. You guys have seen it. But I definitely want to finish on a good note.”
Gibson (13-11) might even end up influencing the AL Central pennant race. He’s set to start the season finale against Detroit on Sept 28.
Trevor Plouffe added four singles and Aaron Hicks two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who won for the 67th time, their highest total since 2010
After getting hit in the right elbow by Andrew Chafin (0-1) in the first inning, Mauer played defense in the second before coming out with a bruised elbow. The Twins say he is day to day.
Parmelee hit in Mauer’s spot and singled down the left-field line to drive in Hicks and Eduardo Escobar, giving Minnesota a 3-0 lead in the second.
“He comes up in a big situation and rolls one down the line,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “That’s what guys have to do. Be ready off the bench.”
That was plenty of support for Gibson, who allowed one run in seven innings and won for just the second time in his last eight starts.
Chafin gave up four runs on seven hits and was removed after the first two batters he faced in the fourth reached base.
“Overall a good experience for him. He’s been up here for three starts,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. “It’s about fastball command. I know Hark (pitching coach Mike Harkey) talked to him after he came out of the game about that. He needs to have a good offseason and be ready to pitch next year.”
Ender Inciarte lined his fourth single of the game to score Cody Ross and make it 6-3 in the ninth before Jared Burton got A.J. Pollack to ground out with runners on first and second to end it.
RYAN’S HEALTH
Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who stepped back from his post for a few months earlier this year to focus on radiation treatment for a form of cancer found in his neck, said his health won’t affect his status beyond this season. He has lost some weight and had trouble tasting food but otherwise has fared well since completing the radiation treatment.
“If I couldn’t do the job, I’d walk away,” Ryan said, adding: “I’m not worried about having the physical ability and the time to be able to do this job.”
As for the Diamondbacks, they’re in the midst of a general manager search, having fired Kevin Towers earlier this month.
TRAINER’S ROOM
DIAMONDBACKS: DH Aaron Hill is day to day after dislocating the top of his right pinky finger while sliding headfirst into home plate in the eighth inning Monday night. Paul Goldschmidt (fractured hand) felt good Tuesday after taking 40 lights swings on Monday. Matt Reynolds (elbow) was scheduled to pitch in an instructional league game Tuesday. Patrick Corbin (elbow) and David Hernandez (elbow) each threw from 75 feet for 6 minutes on Monday.
TWINS: Gardenhire hopes to get Tommy Milone, who hasn’t pitched since Sept. 2 because of a neck injury, some work out of the bullpen later this week.
“I know he’d like to pitch. We’re going to try to find a way to do it,” Gardenhire said.
UP NEXT
Vidal Nuno (0-6, 3.78) starts for Arizona in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale. He’ll be trying for his first win since coming over via trade from the Yankees.
Phil Hughes (15-10, 3.61) will try to become the first Twins’ starter to reach 16 wins since Carl Pavano went 17-11 in 2010.
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