Major League Baseball
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 4, Cincinnati 3
When: 1:10 PM ET, Sunday, June 24, 2012
Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Temperature: 90°
Umpires: Home - Mike Muchlinski, 1B - Bob Davidson, 2B - Mark Lollo, 3B - Dan Bellino
Attendance: 34513
Twins 4, Reds 3: Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth off Aroldis Chapman and the Twins won the rubber game against the host Reds.

After Joey Votto put the Reds ahead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, Willingham hit an upper-deck shot off Chapman (4-4), who blew his third save this month.

Scott Diamond (6-3) gave up three runs with seven strikeouts over eight innings, and Jared Burton worked around two base runners in the bottom of the ninth for his first career save.

Willingham’s blast ruined a strong outing by Reds’ starter Mike Leake, who allowed two runs on five hits with no walks over eight innings.

Trevor Plouffe tied the game at 1-all in the fifth inning with his 15th home run, and the Twins moved ahead in the seventh when Justin Morneau’s grounder scored Willingham.

Chapman, who fell to 0-4 in June, allowed a one-out double to Joe Mauer in the ninth before Willingham crushed his 15th home run, scoring pinch runner Denard Span.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Reds 3B Scott Rolen walked in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter after going 5-for-7 with a homer and three RBIs in the first two games of the series. …At least one home run has been hit in each of the last 62 games at Great American Ball Park, dating back to July 29, 2011. …Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said closer Matt Capps (shoulder) is likely headed to the disabled list. …Plouffe’s home run was his 10th this month.
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Minnesota   Cincinnati
Scott Diamond Player Mike Leake
Win W/L No Decision
8.0 IP 8.0
7 Strikeouts 5
8 Hits 5
3.38 ERA 2.25
Hitting
Minnesota   Cincinnati
Josh Willingham Player Devin Mesoraco
2 Hits 2
2 RBI 0
1 HR 0
6 TB 3
.500 Avg .667
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Minnesota 7 2 15 .219 5 7 4 0 0 0
Cincinnati 8 1 13 .258 13 7 3 3 1 0