Game 68: Twins overcome huge deficit to get win
Minnesota @ Philadelphia (Game 2 of 3)
Summary
If you stuck around for this game, you were in for a gem. The game got out of hand for the Twins right after the first inning. Kevin Slowey came out after only 1.2 innings and Minnesota was behind 3-8 to start the 4th inning.
Minnesota was able to cut the lead to 4-8 in the top of the 6th off of a Jim Thome solo home run, but the team gave up another run in the bottom of 7th to drop them back by 5 runs again at 4-9.
If you still had not turned off your television set, radio or internet connection, you were in for a great treat. Top of the 9th down by 5 runs, the Twins do the impossible and tie the game.
Things looked even better when Drew Butera came in to pinch hit for Matt Guerrier at the top of the 10th inning and on a 1-1 count, hits a 90 MPH 2-seam fastball for his first major league home run and put the Twins up 10-9.
Jon Rauch came in and takes care of the next two batters with 3 pitches, but falls behind Ross Gload with 3 balls. Looking for a fast ball Gload crushes the 5th pitch for a line drive home run to right field. Philadelphia has tied the game and Rauch has blown his 3rd save of the year.
Enter the 11th inning and the Twins take over. With 1 out, Joe Mauer walks. With Rauch following Justin Morneau, Philadelphia decides to walk Morneau to get to Rauch. Rauch lays down a sacrifice bunt to move Morneau and Mauer to 2nd and 3rd base respectively.
With 2 outs, Philadelphia elects to pitch to Delmon Young instead of walking him to get to Matt Tolbert. The decision is costly as Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to short, scoring Mauer and moving Morneau to 3rd.
Matt Tolbert follows that up with a double to score Morneau from 3rd and Young from 1st. Tolbert is thown out trying to take third.
Rauch gets the first two batters before giving up a double to Chase Utley. Rauch has to deal with the very hot Ryan Howard and able to strike him out for the win 13-10.
Batting
The Twins were able to get 15 hits off of the Philies. Delmon Young had the biggest hits of the night, going 3-for-6 with 2 RBI’s, 2 runs.
Joe Mauer had his moment as well. The MVP stuggled at the plate until the 9th inning when with 2 out and a runner on, he hit his 3rd home run of the season and tied the game. He finished the game 1-for-5 with 2 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.
Denard Span was 2-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs, Justin Morneau was 2-5 with 3 RBI’s, 3 runs, and 1 HR (14), and Nick Punto was 2-for 3 with a run scored.
Drew Butera was 1-for-1 with what should have been the game winning home run in the 10th.
Pitching
Kevin Slowey was just awful in his 1.2 innings pitched. It marked the 2nd straight game in which the Minnesota starting pitching was unable to even go 2 innings.
Slowey gave up 7 runs on 7 hits including 2 home runs. He did get 2 K’s but also gave up 1 HR. He pushed his ERA to 4.58.
The combination of Jeff Manship, Brian Duensing and Matt Guerrier was exactly what the Twins needed in an already worn bullpen. They gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 6 K’s and 1 BB.
Jon Rauch on the other hand came in and blew his 3rd save of the season. He made quick work of the first two batters, but fell behind the pinch hitter and ended up paying for it, giving up the tying run.
Rauch gave up 1 run on 2 hits and had 1 K. With the win, Rauch is now 2-1 on the season.
Notes
Drew Butera surprised many with a solo shot in the 10th inning for his first home run. The celebration was short lived though as Rauch was unable to secure the save.
Twins starting pitching has struggled, so it is important for Carl Pavano to continue to eat up innings as he has done all season to give the bullpen a break.
The Twins move to 39-29 while the Phillies falls to 35-31.
Attendance
45,254 (Citizens Bank Park)
