Game 60: Twins fail to sweep yet again
June 10, 2010
Kansas City @ Minnesota (Game 3 of 3)
Summary
Another opportunity to sweep slipped through the Minnesota ball clubs grasp once again as the Twins fell 9-8 to the Royals.
Batting
Denard Span was 4-for-5 on the night wth 1 RBI and 2 runs and improving his slumping average up to .277.
Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau both went 2-for-4 and knocked in 2 RBI’s each.
Pitching
Scott Baker had a tough day giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings. Baker only had 2 K’s and 1 BB. Bakers record falls to 5-5 on the season and his ERA is now 4.81.
It was bullpen by committee with Jesse Crain, Ron Mahay, Alex Burnett, Brian Duensing and Matt Guerrier all coming in. The bullpen gave up 4 runs on 4 hits with only 1 ER.
Notes
The Twins drop to to 35-25 while the Royals improve to 25-36.
Attendance
40,323 (Target Field)
Game 59: Pavano gives Twins another win
June 9, 2010
Kansas City @ Minnesota (Game 2 of 3)
Summary
Carl Pavano has proven to be a valuable asset for the Twins, far more valuable then his record would indicate. Pavano again went 8 great innings to set the Twins up for another win.
Batting
This was another game in which about everyone in the line up recorded a hit. The only exception was Matt Tolbert who went 0-for-4 on the night but picked up 1 run.
Delmon Young continued to have a hot bat, hitting a solo shot in the 2nd.
Pitching
Carl Pavano has been pitching incredible all season and again ate up 8 full innings before handing the ball to Jon Rauch in the 9th. Pavano gave up 2 runs on 6 hits and 98 pitches. Pavano recorded 1 K, but did give up 2 BB in the game.
Pavano is now 6-6 on the year with a 3.92 ERA.
Notes
Carl Pavano has proven that he is the ace on the team and if had not been for some real horrible offense from the Twins he would have an 10-2 record by now.
The Twins moved to to 35-24 while the Royals fall further to 24-36.
Attendance
40,323 (Target Field)
Hudson to DL
June 9, 2010
Orlando Hudson has been retroactively placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a wrist injury. Hudson suffered the injury to his left wrist after colliding with Denard Span on the last play of the game against the Texas Rangers on May 30th. Hudson is able to come off of the DL on June 15th.
It was originally feared that the damage was severe on his surgically repaired wrist, but an MRI and a CT scan revealed no new injuries. Hudson’s recovery process has been slow, though, and the Twins feel Hudson will need a little more time to fully recover.
Placing Hudson on the DL also opened a roster spot for Michael Cuddyer, who is coming back from after being placed on the family bereavement list. This option also lets the Twins keep Danny Valencia and Matt Tolbert on the roster as JJ Hardy is still suffering from a sore wrist.
Game 58: Twins take advantage of Greinke
June 8, 2010
Kansas City @ Minnesota (Game 1 of 3)
Summary
Minnesota took advantage of a bad outing by Greinke to score 6 unanswered runs in the first five innings. Kansas City took advantage of the Twins bullpen in the late innings, but were unable to overcome the Twins and fell 3-7.
Batting
Danny Valencia was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and Jason Kubel was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI’s, 1 run and 1 HR. Denard Span chipped in with 2 RBI’s off of 2 hits.
Pitching
Kevin Slowey went 6 strong innings giving up no runs and 3 hits. Slowey struck out 3 and did not walk a batter. Slowey picked up his 7th win of the season and moves to 7-3 on the year.
Matt Guerrier came in and faced one batter and picked up the win.
Notes
The Twins moved to to 34-24 while the Atheletics improve to 30-28
Attendance
38,970 (Target Field)
Neshek activated and sent to AAA
June 7, 2010
Reliever Pat Neshek has been activated from the 15-day disabled list and sent down to Triple-A Rochester. Neshek, who missed the majority of the past two seasons due to injury, was battling with a sore flexor tendon in his throwing hand at the end of April. He was placed on the DL on May 2nd.
Neshek made six appearances with the club this season giving up two earned runs over 4.1 innings of work for a 4.15 ERA. Both of his earned runs came off his last appearance where he walked and hit the only two batters he faced. Neshek found himself on the disable list four days later as the Twins when with a short pitching staff to bring up Wilson Ramos.
Ron Gardenhire stated that Neshek would have to pitch his way back on to the 25-man roster. “When there’s a need, he’ll get an opportunity – if he’s the one throwing the ball good,” said Gardenhire.
Game 57: Twins come up short in finale
June 6, 2010
Minnesota @ Oakland (Game 3 of 3)
Summary
The Twins fell behind early and although they rallied late in the game, they were unable to win the game.
Batting
Delmon Young had the big bat, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI’s, 2 runs and a home run.
Nick Punto also had a good game going 3-for-4 in the loss.
Pitching
Nick Blackburn struggled only going 2.2 innings. Blackburn gave up 5 runs on 10 hits with 1 walk and zero strike outs. Blackburn earned the loss and drops to 6-3 on the season with a 5.21 ERA
The bullpen was good, with Brian Duensing, Ron Mahay and Alex Burnett finishing the game for Blackburn giving up 0 runs on 3 hits in the remaining 5.1 innings.
Notes
Blackburn really struggled and put the Twins in a bad position. The normally reliable innings eater had a tough time keeping his pitches down and ended paying the price.
The Twins fall to 33-24 while the Atheletics improve to 30-28
Attendance
20,059 (The Coliseum)
Orioles interested in Plouffe?
June 6, 2010
Jayson Stark recently reported on ESPN.com that the Orioles have been looking around for possible short stops and Twins prospect, Trevor Plouffe, is on the list.
Stark’s information came from a source outside of the Orioles camp that said they would love to do what the Tampa Bay Rays did with Jason Bartlett a few years ago and “find a guy who hasn’t quite made it where he is now but who they project just needs a change of scenery.”
Of course, Bartlett was traded from the Twins to the Rays, so why not go back to the source?
Plouffe seemed to impress the right people with his short stint on the club, so I have my doubts that the Twins would go through with a deal unless the right opportunity presented itself. I am not at all familiar with the Orioles farm system, but I am almost positive that the Twins would not find a good fit off their current roster for a potential trade.
I am hoping that Plouffe returns to the Twins 25-man roster sooner or later.
Game 56: Minnesota one run better the Oakland
June 5, 2010
Minnesota @ Oakland (Game 2 of 3)
Summary
The line up was not very familiar, but the game felt like a repeat of the previous night game.
For the second night in a row, the Twins let a small lead get away from them in the late innings. This time the Twins were able to score the winning run in the 9th to hold on to another one run lead, winning the game 4-3.
Batting
Justin Morneau was scratched from the line up because of illness and JJ Hardy took himself out of the line up before the game because of a sore wrist. With Michael Cuddyer and Orlando Hudson gone the line up would not have the same punch.
Delmon Young was 1-for-3 on the night with 3 RBI’s. Jim Thome was 1-for-2 on the night and scored 2 runs.
The biggest hit of the game came from Matt Tolbert who hit a clutch single to score JJ Hardy in the 9th.
Pitching
Francisco Liriano pitched for 7.0 quality innings giving up 1 run on 5 hits striking out 10 and walking 2. Liriano should have gotten another win, but the bullpen was unable to keep the lead with Jesse Crain giving up 2 runs on 3 hits in 0.2 innings.
Alex Burnett came in to finish the 8th inning for Crain and picked up the win after only pitching 0.1 innings.
Jon Rauch had yet another exciting close, giving up one run before finishing the 9th inning with 2K’s.
Notes
Morneau was ill, but did come in to pinch hit in the 9th inning and was walked. Morneau was then replaced on the bases with JJ Hardy who ended up scoring the winning run. The Twins infield looked odd with Harris at 1B, Tolbert at 2B, Danny Valencia at 3B and Nick Punto at SS.
Minnesota will likely have to make a roster move after tomorrow nights game when Cuddyer comes off bereavement leave. Orlando Hudson is expected to be placed on the 15 day DL with his hand injury and JJ Hardy is still struggling with his wrist injury.
Minnesota improved to 33-23 while Oakland drops to 29-27.
Attendance
16,421 (The Coliseum)
Casilla has elbow surgery
June 5, 2010
Alexi Casilla has gone through successful arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. The infielder opted to have surgery as it was affecting his swing and very little progress was being made while taking anti-inflammatory medication.
If everything goes well, Casilla will return from surgery in four to eight weeks. Casilla was place on the 15-day disabled list on May 31st due to the bone spur and Matt Tolbert was called up to take his place on the 25-man roster.
“Lexi’s surgery went good. They got everything cleared up. Now, it will take a little while to see how long it will take him to get back,” Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire said about the surgery.
Game 55: Twins fight off A’s for win
June 4, 2010
Minnesota @ Oakland (Game 1 of 3)
Summary
Minnesota took a 4-1 lead into the 7th inning with Scott Baker at the mound and left the 8th inning tied up at 4-4.
Delmon Young hit a go a head single in the top of the 11th ining and Jon Rauch completed the game with his 14th save of the year.
Batting
Justin Morneau once again led the Twins going 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, three runs two RBI’s and a double.
Delmon Young and Joe Mauer both were 2-for-5 at the plate. Mauer scored twice, while Young had 2 RBI’s including the game winner (Twins 5, Oakland 4).
Pitching
Scott Baker went 7.1 innings with 90 pitches. Baker gave up 4 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1. Unfortunately for Baker the bullpen was not able to stop the bleeding, so he got the no decision for the night.
Matt Guerrier pitched 2.0 innings while striking out 1 and walking 1. Guerrier was the pitcher on record in the bottom of the 10th and picked up his first win on the season (1-1).
Jon Rauch once again made the bottom of the inning interesting, giving up a hit, but was able to finish the inning and record his 14th save of the season.
Notes
Minnesota played with out Michael Cuddyer and and Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer DH’d. The line up was enough to get the ‘W’.
Minnesota improved to 32-23 while Oakland drops to 29-27.
Attendance
21,703 (The Coliseum)
