Angels' bullpen blows late lead; Twins get 1st win, 5-4

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels were two innings from sending the Minnesota Twins to an 0-10 start this season.

A late collapse by the bullpen ended Minnesota's skid while also bringing Los Angeles' four-game winning streak to an end.

The Twins became the last team in the major leagues to win this season, after Byung Ho Park drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the eighth inning for a 5-4 victory Friday night over the Angels.

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia's bullpen entered the series opener with a 3.34 ERA through the team's first nine games but ran into trouble against the previously winless Twins (1-9). The Angels' relief corps couldn't preserve a 4-2 lead in the seventh after home runs by Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun.

Greg Mahle and Mike Morin each faced two Twins in the bottom of the seventh in relief of starter Garrett Richards. After Mahle walked Eddie Rosario with one out, Morin served up a double to Eduardo Nunez down the left-field line that drove in Rosario to cut the Angels' lead to 4-3.

"It's frustrating," Morin said. "It's our job to come in and put the fire out. That whole at-bat to Nunez kind of changed the complexion of the game."

Nunez later scored the tying run when Joe Mauer singled to left off Jose Alvarez. Los Angeles (5-5) gave up the go-ahead run in the eighth when Park tagged right-hander Fernando Salas (0-1) for an RBI double to left, scoring Trevor Plouffe from first.

Craig Gentry bobbled the ball briefly as he picked it up in the corner, giving Plouffe a little extra time.

"Some things got away tonight," Scioscia said. "I think the walk hurt Greg Mahle, and then Mike Morin just couldn't finish Nunez. He had good at-bats, and he was on everything tonight."

Miguel Sano and Plouffe hit consecutive RBI doubles in the sixth off Richards, the third multi-run inning for the Twins this season. This was the first time they topped three runs in a game, but they're still last in the majors with 19 runs.

Richards, who allowed two runs and four hits, needed 104 pitches to get through six innings. The Angels have lost all three of his starts this season.

"I can't worry about that stuff," Richards said. "I need to take the ball every fifth day and give us a chance to win. That's pretty much my only goal."

Nunez went 3 for 3 with two runs scored. Casey Fien (1-0) picked up the victory after getting the last out of the eighth inning with runners at the corners, and Kevin Jepsen worked a hitless ninth for his first save.

Twins starter Tommy Milone didn't allow a run until Yunel Escobar's RBI double in the sixth, but after the Twins gave him the lead the left-hander lost it five minutes later in the seventh inning on the long balls by Pujols and Calhoun sandwiched around a walk.

AILING ANGELS COACH

Bullpen coach Scott Radinsky didn't travel with the Angels to Minnesota after experiencing chest pains Wednesday following a game at Oakland. He was undergoing tests in Orange County to determine the cause.

TRAINER'S ROOM

LHPs C.J. Wilson (left shoulder) and Andrew Heaney (left flexor muscle) have been playing catch, but neither member of the rotation has progressed far enough in their recovery to be cleared to throw from a mound.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will make his second start of the season Saturday. He's 9-2 with a 3.22 ERA in 16 career appearances against the Twins, including a no-hitter on May 2, 2012.

Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 1.29 ERA) will take the mound for the second time this year in the Saturday matinee. He had a stellar first turn, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings.