Nick Blackburn #53

Robert Nicholas Blackburn...wife Alicia (Powell)...daughter Payton (8/13/10) and son Easton (12/20/11)...2000 graduate of Del City (OK) High School...2002 graduate of Seminole State Junior College.

2012

Was Twins number four starter, starting the home opener April 9 vs. Los Angeles-AL; allowed five runs on five hits in 6.0 innings with two walks and three strikeouts while suffering the loss. ... Left a start after 5.1 innings April 14 vs. Texas, with right posterior shoulder stiffness. ... Earned first win, allowing five runs on six hits in 5.0 innings May 11 vs. Toronto, snapping a four-game losing streak to start season. ... Placed on 15-day disabled list with left quad strain May 17-June 4...made two rehab starts for Triple-A Rochester before returning to Twins. ... Won three straight decisions in four starts upon his return June 6-22. ... Posted 8.10 ERA (63.1 IP, 57 ER) with opponents batting .333 (90-for-270) with 15 home runs in first 13 starts; optioned to Triple-A Rochester July 4. ... Made two starts for Red Wings, going 2-0, 0.60 (15.0 IP, 1 ER), including an 8.0-inning complete game shutout July 8 vs. Lehigh Valley. ... Recalled by Twins July 17. ... Went 0-4, 6.11 (35.1 IP, 24 ER) in six starts and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester August 20.

2011

Opened the season as the Twins number three starter...made his first start, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits in 5.2 innings with one walk and two strikeouts while earning the win, April 3 at Toronto...Surpassed 600.0 career innings pitched, May 4 at Chicago (AL)...Lost four straight decisions, April 9-28 but went on to win five consecutive decisions, tying his career-high for a win-streak, May 4-June 16...Did not allow two-or-more earned runs in five consecutive starts, posting an ERA of 1.72 (36.2 ip, 7 er), May 4-24...Made his 100th career start and did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits in 7.2 innings, May 14 vs. Toronto...also set a career-high with eight strikeouts in that start...Pitched his fifth career complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts, May 24 vs. Seattle...set a careerhigh, throwing 127 pitches...recorded his 300th career strikeout in that start, fanning Miguel Olivo in the second inning...Went 3-0, 2.53 (42.2 ip, 12 er) in six starts in May...his 42.2 innings pitched ranked fifth in the AL and 10th in baseball...Left his start after 5.0 innings pitched, June 4 at Kansas City with back stiffness...Set a career-high with five walks, July 30 at Oakland...set a new career-high with six walks in his next start, August 5 vs. Chicago (AL)...Lost his final four decisions, July 25-August 16...walked 19 batters in his final five starts (22.1 ip), July 30-August 21...Made his final start, tossing 1.1 innings, August 21 vs. New York (AL)...placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right lateral forearm strain, August 22...transferred to 60-day disabled list, September 5...Went 4-2, 3.86 (53.2 ip, 23 er) in nine starts against the AL Central...three of his seven wins on the season came against Chicago (AL)...Was diagnosed with Radial Tunnel Syndrome and had surgery to decompress the radial nerve in his right forearm, September 30...Reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, October 14.

2010

Started the season as the Twins' number two starter and made his first start, April 6 at Los Angeles (AL), earning the win while allowing three runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings with a career-high four walks...Pitched the first complete game at Target Field (fourth career complete game), allowing three runs on 11 hits with one walk and two strikeouts and earning the victory, May 4 vs. Detroit...the win was the start of a personal five-game win-streak...Led the Twins to their first shutout at Target Field, as he pitched 7.0 shutout innings, allowing four hits, as the Twins beat Baltimore 6-0, May 9...Went 5-0, 2.65 (37.1 ip, 11 er) in five May starts, going 7.0-plus in each start and was one of four pitchers in baseball with five wins and no losses in the month...the five-game win-streak marked a career-high...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, his streak of 101.2 consecutive innings without allowing a stolen base was snapped on June 18 at Philadelphia (Shane Victorino), the streak began on September 11, 2009 vs. Oakland (Rajai Davis)...Allowed a season-high four home runs (most by a Twins starter in 2010), July 10 at Detroit...most for a Twins starter since Anthony Swarzak allowed four, August 20, 2009 against Texas...Made one relief appareance (July 25 at Baltimore), before being optioned to Triple-A Rochester, July 30...Posted a 2.49 ERA (21.2 ip, 6 er) in four starts with the Red Wings, including 5.0 scoreless innings in two separate starts: August 2 at Charlotte (three hits) and August 12 vs. Gwinnett (four hits)...Recalled August 22, replacing Kevin Slowey in the rotation (strained triceps)...made first start back with the club, August 23 vs. Texas, allowing three runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings with no walks and five strikeouts but suffered the loss as the Twins were shut out...Tossed 8.2 scoreless innings, earning the win as he allowed two hits, two walks and set a season-high with six strikeouts, August 28 at Seattle...retired 21 consecutive batters in the game, the longest stretch for a Twins pitcher since July 12-20, 2008 when Scott Baker retired 25 straight...Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings, with just five hits allowed and two walks but did not factor into the decision, September 11 at Cleveland...Pitched in his 100th career game, making the start on October 3 vs. Toronto, the final regular season game for the Twins...Overall, he went 3-5, 3.16 (57.0 ip, 20 er) with six home runs allowed, 13 walks and 33 strikeouts with opponents batting .221 in nine games (eights starts), since his return from Rochester...Pitched 7.0-plus innings in five of his final six starts, September 5-October 3...posted an ERA of 3.57 and held opponents to a .233 batting average in that span...Limited opposing base runners to just five stolen bases (nine attempts).

2009

Made Twins Opening Day roster for the second consecutive season, opening as the team's number two starter...recorded first win, allowing just one run on six hits in 7.0 innings, April 24 at Cleveland...pitched 7.0 shutout innings, May 10 vs. Seattle (ND) and again on May 21 at Chicago (AL), allowing just four hits (win)...pitched 7.0-or-more innings in four consecutive starts, posting an ERA of 1.57 (28.2 ip, 5 er), May 10-26...won four consecutive starts, May 21-June 18, including his first career complete game, allowing just one run on six hits, carrying a shutout into the ninth inning, June 18 vs. Pittsburgh...second consecutive complete game, June 24 at Milwaukee...became the first Twins pitcher to toss back-to-back complete games since Brad Radke in 1998...posted an ERA of 2.37 in five June starts...third career complete game, July 5 vs. Detroit...finished the first-half with a record of 8-4, 3.06 (123.1 ip, 42 er) in 18 starts...went 2-0, 1.65 (27.1 ip, 5 er) with 18 strikeouts and one walk in his final four starts, September 16-October 3...led club in innings pitched (205.2), tied for lead in starts (33) and was second in wins (11)...pitched 6.0-plus innings in 25 of his 33 starts and 7.0-plus innings in 17 starts...21 of his 33 starts were quality starts...his 1.79 walks-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio was third in the American League, behind Roy Halladay (1.32) and teammate Carl Pavano (1.76)...started game 2 of the ALDS, October 9 at New York (AL), allowing one run on three hits in 5.2 innings (ND).

2008

First Major League start, allowing just one run on five hits in 7.0 innings with one walk and six strikeouts, but suffered the loss in Twins 1-0 defeat, April 2 vs. Los Angeles (AL)...earned his first win after tossing 7.2 shutout innings, April 19 vs. Cleveland...tossed 6.0-plus innings in eight consecutive starts, going 4-2, 3.33 (54.0 ip, 20 er), April 19-May 27...singled off Ubaldo Jimenez for first career hit, May 16 at Colorado...career-high 8.1 innings, May 27 at Kansas City...was struck in face by a line drive off the bat of Bobby Abreu, suffering a bruised nose and upper lip, June 1 vs. New York (AL)...had three-game win-streak, going 3-0, 3.28 (24.2 ip, 9 er) in four starts, June 11-July 2...despite going 1-2 in July, held opponents to a .217 batting average...won in back-to-back starts, August 1 and August 6...he worked a combined 13.0 innings allowing four runs during the two starts...earned his 10th win of the season, September 9 vs. Kansas City...he tossed 7.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits...started the tie-breaking 163rd game of the season on September 30 at Chicago (AL) to decide the AL Central Champion, allowing just one run on four hits and was dealt the loss opposite John Danks...he issued three walks in that start and struck out three with a Jim Thome solo home run in the seventh being the difference in the 1-0 game...became just the 12th Twins rookie, second in 2008 (Perkins), to record 10-or-more wins in his rookie season...became the third Twins rookie pitcher in club history to lead his staff in innings pitched (193.1) and starts (33) and first since Brad Radke did it in 1995 (28 starts and 181.0 ip), with the other being Roger Erickson in 1978 (37 starts & 265.2 ip)...recorded 19 quality starts....tossed 6.0-plus innings in 21 of his 33 starts...posted a record of 8-3, 2.95 (88.1 ip, 29 er) in 14 home starts and a 3-8, 4.97 (105.0 ip, 58 er) in 19 road starts...second in the Majors in groundball doubleplays induced (31) and led the Majors in GIDP per nine innings (1.44)...finished fourth on the Twins All-Time list for innings pitched by a rookie, was fourth in starts and tied for 10th in wins with Bert Blyleven (1970) and Tony Fiore (2002)...led all Major League rookies in innings pitched and starts, fourth in wins, fifth in ERA and 11th in strikeouts.

2007

Began season at Double-A New Britain...made eight appearances (seven starts) before being promoted to Triple-A Rochester, May 17...had 44.0 inning scoreless streak, May 29-July 3...had seven-game win-streak, June 3-August 13...tossed back-to-back complete game shutouts, June 8 at Indianapolis and June 14 vs. Louisville...disabled with strained right forearm, July 16-August 1...went 1-2, 1.96 (18.1 ip, 4 er) in final four Triple-A starts, August 13-30...contract selected and made Major League debut in relief, September 3 vs. Cleveland...season-high 3.0 innings and three strikeouts, September 5 vs. Cleveland....participated in the Arizona Fall League.

2006

Spent entire season at Double-A New Britain...season-high three-game win-streak, going 3-0, 3.12 (26.0 ip, 9 er) in four starts, May 2-20... tied for club lead in complete games, second in innings pitched and tied for second in wins...tossed five-hit shutout, August 30 vs. Reading.

2005

Began season at Single-A Ft. Myers...tossed complete game, June 24 at Clearwater...named Florida State League All-Star...promoted to Double-A New Britain, July 7...tossed two complete games, July 22 at Norfolk (win) and August 2 at Portland (loss)...promoted to Triple-A Rochester, August 6...made three starts for the Red Wings before being transferred to New Britain, August 20...was seventh among all minor leaguers with three complete games.

2004

Began season at Single-A Quad Cities...disabled with sprained right ankle, May 4-11...Twins' Minor League Player of the Week, July 3-9... promoted to Single-A Ft. Myers, July 21...named Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July...named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, July 25-August 1.

2003

Spent entire season at Single-A Quad Cities.

2002

Led club in games started, was second in innings pitched and third in strikeouts.