Game 97: Mauer’s 2HR’s not enough to defeat Halos

July 24, 2009
Game 97: Mauer’s 2HR’s not enough to defeat Halos
Minnesota @ Los Angeles (Game 2 of 4)
Joe Mauer showed off his power stroke in Los Angeles and hit two home runs.  Mauer’s two home runs also proved that home runs don’t make much of a difference when the rest of the team fails to get on base before them as the Twins lost their third game in a row in a 6-3 loss to the Angels on Friday night.
The Angels got on board in the second inning of a 2-run home run from Robb Quinlan off of Francisco Liriano.  Joe Mauer would cut the Angels lead in half with a solo home run in the fourth to make it 2-1.  The Angels would make that up in the fifth, though, off a solo home run from Jeff Mathis to make it 3-1.
Mauer would answer back in the top half of the sixth with another solo home run to bring the Twins within one run but Liriano would give up a 3-run homer to Mike Napoli to extend the Angels lead to four runs.  Liriano would leave the game shortly afterwards with six earned runs off eight hits, three strike outs and two walks.  All six runs would come off three home runs.
Jesse Crain came in to relieve Liriano and held the Angels to no hits while striking out two in 1 2/3 innings of work.  Brian Duensing was also strong in an inning of work and gave up only one hit and picking up a strike out.
The Twins tried to mount a comeback in the ninth when Brian Buscher hit a two out single to center that scored Justin Morneau from second.  Buscher would advance to second but Delmon Young would end the threat with a strike out to end the game.
Attendance: 39,272 (Angel Stadium)

Minnesota @ Los Angeles (Game 2 of 4)

Joe Mauer showed off his power stroke in Los Angeles and hit two home runs.  Mauer’s two home runs also proved that home runs don’t make much of a difference when the rest of the team fails to get on base before them as the Twins lost their third game in a row in a 6-3 loss to the Angels on Friday night.

The Angels got on board in the second inning of a 2-run home run from Robb Quinlan off of Francisco Liriano.  Joe Mauer would cut the Angels lead in half with a solo home run in the fourth to make it 2-1.  The Angels would make that up in the fifth, though, off a solo home run from Jeff Mathis to make it 3-1.

Mauer would answer back in the top half of the sixth with another solo home run to bring the Twins within one run but Liriano would give up a 3-run homer to Mike Napoli to extend the Angels lead to four runs.  Liriano would leave the game shortly afterwards with six earned runs off eight hits, three strike outs and two walks.  All six runs would come off three home runs.

Jesse Crain came in to relieve Liriano and held the Angels to no hits while striking out two in 1 2/3 innings of work.  Brian Duensing was also strong in an inning of work and gave up only one hit and picking up a strike out.

The Twins tried to mount a comeback in the ninth when Brian Buscher hit a two out single to center that scored Justin Morneau from second.  Buscher would advance to second but Delmon Young would end the threat with a strike out to end the game.

Attendance: 39,272 (Angel Stadium)

Written by Jason Graening · Filed Under Summaries 

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