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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Game 54: Jose Lopez busts up Twins again
June 3, 2010
Minnesota @ Seattle (Game 4 of 4)
Summary
After scoring five runs in the first game of the series, Minnesota was unable to produce but just three runs total in the remainder of the four game series.
As their struggles continued in Seattle, Jose Lopez again took advantage of the Twins pitching, belting his 2nd HR of the series and 4th HR of the year.
Batting
Minnesota managed only six hits this game and only one run. Joe Mauer doubled in the first and Justin Morneau was able to score him with Morneau’s only hit of the night.
Pitching
All season Carl Pavano has pitched well and gotten run support. This game was not much different.
Pavano went 7.0 innings giving up 4 runs on 8 hits and 1 HR. The veteran had 5 K’s and 2 BB’s on the night. Other then maybe one bad pitch to Jose Lopez, his game was good enough most nights at Target Field to get the win. Unfortunately the Twins were at Safeco Field and Pavano now has a deceivingly poor record of 5-6 on the season.
Notes
It was the Major League debut of Danny Valencia at third base for the Twins. Unlike the other first time starters for the Twins this year, Valencia was only moderately successful in his first outing with a single (1-for-3).
Minnesota fell to 32-22 while Seattle improved to 22-31. The Twins will face the Oakland Athletics tomorrow night with Oakland coming back today from Boston.
Attendance
21,291 (Safeco Field)
Game 53: Extra inning controversy
June 2, 2010
Minnesota @ Seattle (Game 3 of 4)
Summary
A day filled with umpire controversy did not escape the Twins. While Jim Joyce might have robbed Major League Baseball of the 21st “Perfect Game” in history and mind you the third one of 2010, the officials in Seattle were only slightly as bad.
Not that the Twins did not have their chances to win the game. Withe the game tied in the top of the 9th inning, Joe Mauer took third base with only one out. The Twins were unable to score Mauer after Michael Cuddyer lined out and Jason Kubel flew out to end the inning.
The Twins would end up losing the game on a blown call at second base. With runners at first and third, Ichiro Suzuki hit a grounder to the right of the 2nd base bag. A diving Matt Tolbert stopped the ball and shuffled it to JJ Hardy who was covering the bag. The ball arrived at the bag a good half step before the runner’s slide, but the umpire called the runner safe.
Hardy then tried to throw home, but the runner was already safe and the Twins lost 1-2.
Batting
Michael Cuddyer was 2-for-4 and had the Twins only run of the game. Cuddyer hit a home run in the top of the 7th inning to tie the ball game. It was nice to see Cuddyer have a good night at the plate as it was announced that he was leaving the team to attend the funeral of his father-in-law.
The Twins only managed 5 hits in the game with Justin Morneau adding a double, and both Joe Mauer and Matt Tolbert hitting singles.
Pitching
Kevin Slowey pitched a good game for the Twins, giving them 7.0 quality innings. Slowey allowed only 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1. Slowey keeps his record of 6-3.
Notes
Having faced Cliff Lee, the Twins had their chances to win the game. The Twins were 0-5 this game with RISP and the bats continue to be fairly quiet on the road.
Minnesota fell to 31-22 while Seattle improved to 21-31.
Attendance
20,414 (Safeco Field)
Game 52: Blackburn steak ends
June 1, 2010
Minnesota @ Seattle (Game 2 of 4)
Summary
After pitching a career best in May, Nick Blackburn struggled against Seattle. Blackburn gave up 10 hits and 1 HR in only 3.2 innings pitched. Blackburn and the Twins fell to the Mariners 1-7.
The Twins offense was of no assistance to the Twins pitchers either. The Twins were only able to muster one run in the top of the third inning.
Batting
Although 2-7 in the line up were able to get a hit, only Justin Morneau had anything to write home about. Morneau hit a home run in the top of the 3rd inning, but ended up 1-for-4 on the night.
Pitching
Nick Blackburn only lasted 3.2 innings 5 runs on 10 hits and 80 pitches. Blackburn struggled to keep the ball down and Seattle took full advantage to his bad outing. Blackburn falls to 6-2 on the season.
Alex Burnett came in to relieve Blackburn and pitched very well going 2.1 innings and striking out 3 while not giving up any hits or walks.
Ron Mahay came in to the game in the 7th and was beat up. Mahay gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Mahay did strike out 2 in the inning.
Notes
Although Blackburn did not pitch well, the Twins offense continues to struggle on the road. There have been occasional burst of offensive powers on the road, but no consistency.
Minnesota fell to 31-21 while Seattle improved to 20-31.
Attendance
18,740 (Safeco Field)
Game 51: Minnesota holds off Seattle
May 31, 2010
Minnesota @ Seattle (Game 1 of 4)
Summary
Minnesota bent, but didn’t break. After going up 5-1 in the top of the 4th, the Twins allowed the Mariners to cut into the lead with two runs in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Minnesota looked good until the bottom of the 9th when Jon Rauch gave up one run on two hits. Rauch was able to retire the fifth batter in the 9th for the Twins win.
Batting
Justin Morneau was the hot bat, going 3-for-4 with 1 run and 2 doubles on the night.
Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young both had 2-for-4 nights each with a home run. Cuddyer scored two runs with 2 RBI’s and Delmon scored once and also contributed 2 RBI’s.
Pitching
Francisco Liriano looked sharp going 6.0 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. Liriano had 7 K’s and did not walk a batter in the 99 pitch performance.
Matt Guerrier and Jesse Crain each donated an inning of work and picked up 1 K each.
Jon Rauch came in to the game in the 9th and recorded his 13th save, only after giving up 2 hits and 1 run.
Notes
Minnesota will need another strong performance tomorrow as they will get two of the leagues best pitchers on Wednesday and Thursday.
Minnesota improves to 31-20 while Seattle drops to 19-31.
Attendance
19,795 (Safeco Field)
Game 50: Minnesota doubles up Texas for sweep
May 30, 2010
Texas @ Minnesota (Game 3 of 3)
Summary
Minnesota scored 5 runs in the first 3 innings to take a 5-2 lead on Texas.
Both teams added runs later in the game, with the Twins taking advantage of the early runs from the Rangers and earning the sweep.
Batting
Everyone in the line up with the exception of Michael Cuddyer and JJ Hardy ended up with at least a base hit in this game.
Nick Punto was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Denard Span and Jason Kubel were each 2-for-4 on the night with Span getting 1 RBI and Kubel getting 2 RBI’s.
Pitching
Scott Baker had a quality start going 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3.
Jon Rauch came in to the game in the 9th and recorded his 12th save, giving up 2 hits before getting the save.
Notes
Minnesota recorded the sweep against the AL West leaders and Minnesota 3.5 games over Detroit in the AL Central.
Minnesota improves to 30-20 while the Texas drop to 26-24.
Attendance
39,873 (Target Field)
