MINNEAPOLIS - At the start of the baseball season, Nick Blackburn was in the Minnesota Twins' starting rotation. On Wednesday, Blackburn was sent to Triple-A Rochester.
The 30-year-old right-hander is 4-5 with an 8.10 ERA in 13 starts for the Twins this season. Blackburn's 57 earned runs are the most allowed by any Twins pitcher.
Blackburn gave up six runs and eight hits over four innings in his last start, an 8-6 win at Detroit.
To replace Blackburn, the Twins called up right-handed pitcher Casey Fien. In 33 relief appearances for the Rochester Red Wings, Fien has posted a 2-5 record with a 4.30 ERA and nine saves in 12 appearances.
The 28-year-old Fien has 11 career appearances in the majors, all with the Detroit Tigers between 2009 and 2010.
(Copyright 2012 KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)