Twins can't back Lynn's 9-K home debut

Lynn's nine-strikeout home debut MINNEAPOLIS -- Right-hander Lance Lynn threw five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts to bounce back from a shaky season debut and hold the high-octane Astros in check early, but the Twins couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities against Justin Verlander and Houston's bullpen in a 2-0 loss in the series opener on a cold Monday night at Target Field.

Starting with a game-time temperature of 35 degrees, Lynn didn't have his best control, walking four after he walked six in his first outing, but he used strikeouts to get out of several jams and allowed just three hits. He needed 105 pitches to get through the five frames, which he felt was the most…