Game 131: Twins take first game against Sox
August 31, 2009
Chicago @ Minnesota (Game 1 of 3)
A pair of home runs in the third inning gave the Twins more than enough to defeat their division rival Chicago White Sox in a 4-1 ballgame at the Metrodome.
The Twins took a 3-0 lead after three that was sparked by a two out solo home run from Joe Mauer. Justin Morneau would follow with a single to right and be knocked in off a 2-run home run from Jason Kubel.
Nick Blackburn would keep the Twins in the game by having one of his better outings in recent memory by holding the Sox to one run off six hits over seven complete innings. The sole run would be scored off a sacrifice fly from A.J. Pierzynski in the sixth inning.
The Twins would add a run in the eighth off a two out line drive single from Michael Cuddyer that scored Mauer. Joe Nathan would come in and retire the side in order while striking out two and earning his 35th save of the season.
Attendance: 19,426
24: A New Record
August 30, 2009
The Twins have set a new club record, however, it may be one that they would most likely want to forget. The team has used a record number of pitchers in a season with 24 different hurlers stepping on the mound.
The record was tied on Saturday night when newly acquired, Ron Mahay, went out to relieve Carl Pavano in the seventh inning. The record was broken the very next day when Jon Rauch pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
The previous record was set in 1989 when the Twins used 23 pitchers. Coincidently, that year the Twins were hovering around the .500 mark and finished with an 80-82 record.
Out of all of the pitchers used this season, 10 of them have started and have a combined record of 49-47 during those starts. Of course, with the Twins carrying a 12-man pitching staff, half of the pitchers have either been sent down to the minors or sent packing.
Let’s take a look at this years record breaking staff. Players marked with an asterisk are currently on the active roster.
Luis Ayala
1-2, 4.18 ERA, 32.1 innings, 21 strike outs, 8 walks
Status: Cut from team in June, picked up by Marlins.
Scott Baker *
12-7, 4.44 ERA, 160.0 innings, 26 starts, 131 strike outs, 31 walks, 1 shutout
Status: Starting pitcher.
Nick Blackburn *
8-9, 4.29 ERA, 161.2 innings, 26 starts, 68 strike outs, 38 walks
Status: Starting pitcher.
Craig Breslow
1-2, 6.28 ERA, 14.1 innings, 11 strike outs, 11 walks
Status: Claimed off waivers by Athletics in May.
Jesse Crain *
4-4, 6.31 ERA, 35.2 innings, 32 strike outs, 19 walks
Status: Back in bullpen after five week stint in Triple-A.
R.A. Dickey
1-1, 4.62 ERA, 64.1 innings, 1 start, 42 strike outs, 30 walks
Status: Designated for assignment after being removed from 40-man roster.
Brian Duensing *
2-1, 4.37 ERA, 47.1 innings, 3 starts, 33 strike outs, 19 walks
Status: In starting rotation after Perkins and Liriano put on DL.
Armando Gabino
0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2.2 innings, 1 start, 1 strike out, 3 walks
Status: Sent back to Triple-A after one rough outing.
Matt Guerrier *
5-1, 2.30 ERA, 62.2 innings, 1 save, 41 strike outs, 11 walks
Status: Workhorse of bullpen and leads American League in holds.
Sean Henn
0-3, 7.15 ERA, 11.1 innings, 9 strike outs, 8 walks
Status: Called up in May and sent to Triple-A in June.
Philip Humber
0-0, 8.00 ERA, 9.0 innings, 9 strike outs, 9 walks
Status: Sent to Triple-A after rough April and rough August.
Bobby Keppel *
0-1, 5.31 ERA, 39.0 innings, 25 strike outs, 16 walks
Status: Bullpen reliever called up in June.
Francisco Liriano
5-12, 5.80 ERA, 127.1 innings, 23 starts, 115 strike outs, 58 walks
Status: Put on disabled list with tired arm in August.
Ron Mahay *
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.2 innings, 1 strike out, 0 walks
Status: Newly acquired reliever, pitched scoreless 2/3 inning.
Jeff Manship *
0-0, 5.14 ERA, 7.0 innings, 3 strike outs, 3 walks
Status: Called up in August for bullpen help, may get a few starts.
Jose Mijares *
2-2 2.13 ERA, 50.2 innings, 44 strike outs, 20 walks
Status: One of the bullpen standouts and has second most appearances next to Guerrier.
Juan Morillo
0-0, 22.50 ERA, 2.0 innings, 1 strike out, 3 walks
Status: Claimed from Rockies and sent down to Triple-A to work on control problems.
Kevin Mulvey
0-0, 27.00 ERA, 1.1 innings, 0 strike outs, 0 walks
Status: Called up and sent down in the span of two days after rough outing.
Joe Nathan*
2-1, 1.74 ERA, 51.2 innings, 34 saves, 67 strike outs, 15 walks
Status: Still closing the door on close games.
Carl Pavano*
2-2, 4.06 ERA, 31 innings, 5 starts, 24 strike outs, 7 walks
Status: Brought stability to rotation after coming over from Indians in August.
Glen Perkins
6-7, 5.89 ERA, 96.1 innings, 18 starts, 45 strike outs, 23 walks
Status: Put on DL with shoulder problems after short stint in bullpen.
Jon Rauch*
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.0 inning, 2 strike outs, 0 walks
Status: Picked up off waivers from Diamondbacks and picked up win in first relief appearance.
Kevin Slowey
10-3, 4.86 ERA, 90.2 innings, 16 starts, 75 strike outs, 15 walks
Status: Out for season after surgery to remove bone chips in wrist.
Anthony Swarzak
3-7, 6.25 ERA, 59.0 innings, 12 starts, 34 strike outs, 20 walks
Status: In Triple-A after third stint with team and going 1-5 in that span.
Game 130: Twins take series with late rally
August 30, 2009
Texas @ Minnesota (Game 3 of 3)
The Twins erased a 3-2 deficit by scoring three runs in the eighth inning by pulling out some patented Twins small ball to manufacture runs to take the rubber game of the series.
Scott Baker was on the mound for the Twins and retired the first seven batters he faced before giving up a double to Ivan Rodriguez. Elvis Andrus would follow with a single to center to score Rodriguez and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
The lead wouldn’t last long, though, as Jason Kubel would hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to put the Twins up 2-1. Mike Redmond would hit a two out triple but Nick Punto followed with a pop fly to center to end the inning.
Baker would retire another seven batters in a row before and pitch out of a jam before giving up a 2-run home run to Nelson Cruz to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead.
The Twins wouldn’t quit, though, and tied the game with a single to left from Brendan Harris that scored Justin Morneau. Mike Redmond would follow with a chopper to first but the throw to the plate was not in time as Carlos Gomez scored and the Twins took the lead.
The Twins weren’t done yet, however, as Nick Punto would follow with a perfect squeeze bunt to score Harris from third. The Rangers would get the next two batters to ground out to put an end to the scoring as the Twins were up 5-3.
Joe Nathan would come in to close out the game but ended up loading the bases with no outs. Nathan would then retire the following three batters to hold on the game and earn his 34th save.
Attendance: 29,282
Build it and they will come…
August 30, 2009
Target Field has come one step closer to Opening Day as the outfield sod has arrived on the refrigerated trucks and laid down onto the field. With the Kentucky bluegrass in place, the stadium is finally starting to look and feel like a ballpark.
Even though outdoor baseball in Minnesota is still about seven months away, but this sight should give fans a good glimpse of what to expect come next April.
2010 cannot come fast enough.
Crede to DL, Morales called up
August 30, 2009
Jose Morales got his September callup a little early as the Twins put Joe Crede on the 15-day disabled list and called up Morales to fill his spot.
Crede, who has been battling with back problems over the past week, has been placed on the disabled list with a lower back strain retroactive to August 22nd. Crede’s back had locked up on him prior to a game against the Royals. An MRI later revealed that Crede had suffered post-operative damage to his back.
With Crede going on the DL, Morales got the call to once again join the Twins. Morales has been up and down between the Majors and Triple-A numerous times throughout the season and is sitting at a .343 batting average in 32 at the Majors and a solid .336 in 58 games with Rochester.
Game 129: Rangers shutout Twins
August 29, 2009
Texas @ Minnesota (Game 2 of 3)
The Twins offense fell flat as they could only muster four hits off of Scott Feldman, who earned his 14th win of the season in a 3-0 shutout at the Metrodome.
Feldman got a lead to work with before even stepping foot on the mound as the Rangers took an early 2-0 lead off of a double from Josh Hamilton and a single from Ian Kinsler.
Feldman then held to Twins to eight base runners of four hits and four walks before handing the game over to the bullpen in the sixth inning. The bullpen of Neftali Feliz, C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco held the Twins hitless while striking out a total of five.
Ivan Rodriguez would put up the final run of the game in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to left to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead.
Attendance: 28,516
Ron Mahay added to bullpen
August 29, 2009
The Twins continued to pick up help for their bullpen by picking up veteran left-hander, Ron Mahay, who was recently designated for assignment by the Kansas City Royals. This is the second addition to the bullpen in as many days as the Twins are nearing the deadline for the playoff rosters.
Mahay has traveled around the Majors and has pitched for seven different teams since making his debut in 1995. He most recently spent time with the Royals, who picked him up in 2008 for a 2-year contract worth $8 million. The Twins will be the eighth team he has played for.
This season, Mahay was sitting on a 4.79 ERA with a 1-1 record in 41 1/3 innings. He had given up 26 runs, 22 earned, in 41 appearances with the Royals with 34 strike outs and 19 walks. His last appearance for the Royals was on August 22 against the Twins where he gave up one run off three hits in 1/3 of an inning pitched.
To make room for the addition of Mahay onto the roster, the Twins have optioned Armando Gabino down to Triple-A and R.A. Dickey has been removed from the 40-man roster and has been designated for assignment.
Game 128: Duensing solid against Rangers
August 28, 2009
Texas @ Minnesota (Game 1 of 3)
Brian Duensing took command on the mound against the Texas Rangers by holding them to a single run of three hits while striking out eight batters in a 3-2 win at the Metrodome.
Duensing walked to the first batter he faced before settling down and retiring the next 11 batters in a row. Duensing also worked with a 3-0 lead as the Twins came up big in the first inning highlighted by a leadoff double from Denard Span and an RBI triple from Jason Kubel.
The Rangers would get on the board in the sixth inning when the Twins conceded a run on a ground ball from Josh Hamilton. The Rangers would score again in the ninth when Joe Nathan would give up back-to-back doubles with two out to knock in a run. Nathan would walk the next batter before getting Chris Davis looking on strikes to end the game.
Attendance: 21,641
Twins acquire Jon Rauch from D-Backs
August 28, 2009
The Twins tried to give their bullpen some much needed help and have acquired right-handed reliever, Jon Rauch, from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. To make room for Rauch on the roster, the Twins have sent Philip Humber to Triple-A.
The Rauch has tallied up a 4.14 ERA in 58 appearances this year with the Diamondbacks, however, the number is inflated due to a rough April where he gave up 10 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings pitched. Rauch has also has 35 strike outs and 17 walks this season.
The Twins, who are in the thick of a playoff hunt, needed to make a move soon as the August 31st deadline for active players is nearing the end. Players not on the roster after that date are ineligible for postseason play.
Game 127: Baltimore ends streak
August 26, 2009
Baltimore @ Minnesota (Game 3 of 3)
The Baltimore Orioles took a quick 2-0 lead and never looked back as they snapped the Twins 5-game win streak and prevented the three game sweep with a 5-1 win.
The Orioles got things started in the first inning with a two out single from Nolan Reimold that was overthrown by Orlando Cabrera allowing Cesar Izturis and Luke Scott to score.
Felix Pie added another run in the fourth with a solo home run off Nick Blackburn to give the O’s a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile, Baltimore starter, Jeremy Guthrie, retired 10 in a row before Joe Mauer singled to center and scored on a line drive double from Justin Morneau.
Baltimore would get that run back with a double down the left field line from Chad Moeller that would score Pie from first to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead. Moeller would knock in the final run of the game in the eighth by taking a bases loaded walk from Matt Guerrier.
Although the win streak was snapped, Alexi Casilla showed tremendous signs of improvement in the field with two great defensive plays that helped prevent Baltimore from scoring more runs.
Attendance: 28,446
