Written by Mike Berardino
Ricky Nolasco made his 13th and final home start of 2014 on Monday night.
After getting blasted in a five-run fifth, the Twins’ Opening Day starter finished his Target Field debut season at 3-6 with a 4.46 earned run average. A smattering of boos was heard as Nolasco was lifted.
“It’s been a terrible year,” Nolasco said. “I have high expectations of myself. There’s nothing really I could have done (in September). All I can do is try to stay healthy and avoid major injury and rebound next year. Some rest will be good for me. I’ll be ready to come back next year hungry.”
First, however, Nolasco will have to face the first-place Tigers on Saturday at Detroit. Gunning for their fourth straight American League Central title, the Tigers lead the Twins by an aggregate 101 games in the standings since the start of 2011.
As disappointing as Nolasco has been at home, where he failed to win after July 1, he has struggled even more on the road. Of 136 starters with at least 50 innings this season away from home, Nolasco’s 6.54 ERA ranks as the third-worst.
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