Twins blow late lead to Cardinals

(Minneapolis, MN) — The St. Louis Cardinals scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth to beat the Minnesota Twins 3-2 at Target Field. Minnesota led by a run entering the inning, but Lars Nootbaar hit a two-run single to put St. Louis up for good. A throwing error by Twins second baseman Eduoard Julien helped set up the Redbird heroics. Victor Scott-the-second homered in the victory for St. Louis, while Shawn Armstrong earned his third win in relief. St. Louis took two of three in the series. Willi Castro went deep for the Twins to lead the game off and Royce Lewis put Minnesota ahead 2-1 with a pinch hit double in the eighth inning. Minnesota reliever Jhoan Duran was charged with his seventh loss out of the bullpen. The Twins remain tied for second-place place in the A-L Central at 72-58 and will open a three-game home series tonight against the Atlanta Braves.