Johan Santana allowed four first-inning runs in his first meeting against his former team and the Mets were blanked by the Minnesota Twins, 6-0, on Saturday afternoon. Ex-Yankee Carl Pavano tossed a three-hit shutout. The lone hits by the Mets came on a bunt single by Jeff Francoeur in the third inning, and on consecutive two-out singles by Rod Barajas and Francoeur in the fifth. Jon Niese opposes Scott Baker in Sunday's rubber game.
3:32 p.m.: Jason Kubel leads off the ninth against Fernando Nieve with a solo homer, giving the Twins a 6-0 lead. Carl Pavano should be bidding for his second straight complete game in the bottom half. He limited the Phillies to one run in nine innings in his last outing.
2:57 p.m.: Ryota Igarashi on to pitch the seventh. He has had four straight scoreless one-inning appearances.
2:54 p.m.: Fernando Tatis strikes out and is 0-for-his-last-17.
2:50 p.m.: Johan Santana is done after tossing a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, with the pitcher's spot due up to open the home half. Mets trail, 5-0. Fernando Tatis will pinch hit. Santana allowed five runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out four while tossing 105 pitches (71 strikes).
2:14 p.m.: Make it 5-0 Twins in the middle of the fourth inning. Denard Span delivers an RBI double to the right-field corner, although he's thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple: 9-4-5.
2:11 p.m.: Not a great day on the basepaths for the Mets. Ike Davis is doubled off first base in the second inning on Jason Bay's lineout to shortstop Nick Punto. An inning later, and more egregiously, Jeff Francoeur is doubled off first on a pop-up by Alex Cora to Punto.
2:05 p.m.: The Mets won't get no-hit by Carl Pavano. Jeff Francoeur opens the third inning by bunting for a single to third baseman Michael Cuddyer, who hasn't played the position in years.
1:33 p.m.: Final tally: 41 pitches to complete the first inning. Twins lead, 4-0. Johan Santana also allowed four first-inning runs on April 11 vs. Washington.
1:30 p.m.: Johan Santana's pitch count is 36 and climbing in the first inning. Jason Kubel's two-out double scores one run, then Delmon Young delivers a two-run double. Santana has given up four runs. It's the fourth straight game in which Santana has allowed four-plus runs, matching a career high, also set with Minnesota from May 18-June 3, 2004.
1:20 p.m.: Former batterymate Joe Mauer gets the best of Johan Santana in the first inning. Mauer delivers a one-out RBI single to stake the Twins to an early 1-0 lead.
1:10 p.m.: Lineups:
Twins
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, 3B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Nick Punto, SS
Carl Pavano, RHP
Mets
Jose Reyes, SS
Jesus Feliciano, CF
David Wright, 3B
Ike Davis, 1B
Jason Bay, LF
Rod Barajas, C
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Alex Cora, 2B
Johan Santana, LHP
Game notes: Prince Harry, who requested a No. 22 jersey with "Wales" on the back, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Rod Barajas (back) returns to the starting lineup. ... Angel Pagan (side) hit in a cage and Jerry Manuel said starting on Sunday "is realistic." ... Closer Francisco Rodriguez, who experienced back spasms on Friday, is capable of relieving Saturday, according to Manuel. ... Manuel said he hopes to give David Wright and Jose Reyes off a day apiece in D.C., after the Mets face the Florida Marlins in San Juan.