Lan's Minnesota Twins (The Show 09)

[LanteriX]

April 27th, 2009

Unlikely Hero Gives Twins Walkoff Win

Minneapolis (AP) - Matt Tolbert is an unassuming fellow. In fact, chances are if you aren't a Minnesota Twins fan then you probably have never heard of him. Actually, there's plenty of Minnesota fans that would give you the old head shake and the "who?". The 16th round pick of the Twins back in 2004 was just 1 for 10 on the season coming into tonight's game and has appeared in just 41 games in the big leagues. Gardenhire even contemplated pinch hitting for him in the 9th with Cuddyer on second and 2 outs in the inning. Instead he showed faith in the youngster and it paid dividends as he would lace a single into the left center field gap scoring Cuddyer and giving the Twins a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Ironically enough, it was a Tolbert error back in the first inning that led to a 2 run first inning to begin with, so in a sense the walk-off RBI was redemption. The Rays scored two runs in the first on an RBI double by Pena, scoring Iwamura who reached on the error. Upton would fly out to center scoring Evan Longoria who advanced to 3rd on the Pena double to make it 2-0. The Twins would tie it up in the 4th on an RBI double by Michael Cuddyer, followed by an RBI single by Nick Punto to make it 2-2.

The Twins would take the lead in the bottom of the 5th with a good display of fundamental small ball. Gomez lined to center to lead off the inning and then stole second base. Nomar would do his job and advance the runner to 3rd rolling a pitch over to Iwamura at second to get Gomez to 3rd with 1 out. Joe Mauer drove him in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-2. The lead would last all of 2 batters in the top of the 6th as Carlos Pena would hit a solo homer to straightaway center that snuck just over the glove of Gomez scaling the wall making it 3-3.

Tolbert's RBI in the 9th as mentioned previously gave the Twins the 4-3 victory.

Joe Mauer left the game late with an undisclosed injury. We will report more when we know it.

Box Score

		1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E
TAM		2   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   3   7   0
MIN		0   0   0   2   1   0   0   0   1   4   12  1

				Tampa Bay Rays

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	3	0	1	0	1	0	.347
Crawford, LF	4	1	1	0	0	0	.346
Longoria, 3B	3	1	1	0	1	0	.304
Pena, 1B	4	1	2	2	0	1	.343
Upton, CF	3	0	0	1	0	0	.225
Joyce, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.250
Navarro, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	.227
Kapler, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	.280
Bartlett, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	.351
Batting Totals	32	3	7	3	2	3 

BATTING
2B: Pena (4)
HR: Pena (4)
RBI: Upton (8), Pena 2 (10)
SF: Upton
GIDP: Pena, Bartlett

BASERUNNING
SB: Crawford (8)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Sonnanstine		6.0	8	3	3	0	2	3.08
Shouse			1.0	1	0	0	0	1	1.38
Howell (L, 2-1)		1.2	3	1	1	0	0	1.72
Pitching Totals		8.2	12	4	4	0	3

				Minnesota Twins

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Gomez, CF	4	1	2	0	0	0	.262
Nomar, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	0	.288
Mauer, C	2	0	1	1	0	0	.280
Morneau, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.333
Young, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	.292
Kubel, DH	4	1	1	0	0	1	.270
Cuddyer, RF	4	2	2	1	0	0	.385
Punto, SS	4	0	2	1	0	0	.242
Tolbert, 2B	4	0	2	1	0	1	.214	
Batting Totals	34	4	12	4	0	3

BATTING
2B: Cuddyer (4)
RBI: Mauer (12), Tolbert (1), Punto (8), Cuddyer (13)
HBP: Mauer
SF: Mauer
GIDP: Morneau, Garciaparra

FIELDING
E: Tolbert (2)

BASERUNNING
SB: Gomez (4)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Blackburn		7.0	5	3	2	1	2	4.44
Mijares			1.0	1	0	0	1	0	2.16
Humber (W, 1-0)		1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0.00
Pitching Totals		9.0	7	3	2	2	3

[LanteriX]

April 28th, 2009

Twins Suffer Devastating Injury

Minneapolis (AP) - Minnesota Twins all-star catcher Joe Mauer has been placed on the 60-Day DL today with a fractured wrist sustained in yesterday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Mauer left the game after sliding hard into second base trying to break-up a double play ball. X-ray performed in the clubhouse revealed the fracture. He is expected to miss 2 to 3 months and likely will not return until sometime after the All-Star Break.

He was hitting .280 with 1 HR and 12 RBI on the season.

Veteran backup Mike Redmond will have to take over the everyday catching duties in the interim. The Twins have called up Wilson Ramos to take over backup duties.

[crayzman]

Ouch.. losing Mauer is going to be tough, even if he wasn't putting up great numbers so far.

[LanteriX]

April 28th, 2009

Twins Can't Overcome Rocky First Inning, Fall 7-2

Minneapolis (AP) - Scott Baker has been frustratingly inconsistent so far this season. He has turned in 3 quality starts out of his 5 starts, but his other two starts have been so god awful that they have inflated his season ERA to 6.00 despite the other 3 good starts. Today, he gave up 5 runs in the first inning, and 1 in the second before settling down to pitch 5 shutout innings while giving up a total of 2 more hits the rest of the game. Unfortunately, a 6-0 deficit is pretty tough to rally from behind against, especially against the likes of Matt Garza.

(Sorry for the short article. This was played last night, and there's not much to talk about).

Box Score

		1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E
TAM		5   1   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   7   9   0
MIN		0   0   0   0   0   1   0   1   0   2   8   0

				Tampa Bay Rays

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	5	2	2	0	0	1	.350
Crawford, LF	4	1	2	1	1	1	.353
Longoria, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	2	.289
Pena, 1B	3	2	1	0	1	0	.342
Upton, CF	4	0	0	0	0	0	.214
Joyce, RF	4	1	2	3	0	1	.266
Burrell, DH	4	1	2	3	0	0	.217
Navarro, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	.214
Bartlett, SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	.333
Batting Totals	36	7	9	7	2	6

BATTING
2B: Crawford 2, Joyce
3B: Iwamura
HR: Burrell
RBI: Crawford, Joyce 3, Burrell 3

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Garza (W, 2-1)		7.0	8	2	2	1	6	2.93
Shouse			1.0	0	0	0	0	1	1.28
Nelson			1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Pitching Totals		9.0	8	2	2	2	7

				Minnesota Twins

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Span, RF	3	1	0	0	1	2	.321
Casilla, 2B	4	0	2	1	0	0	.397
Young, LF	4	1	1	0	0	1	.290
Morneau, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	.317
Kubel, DH	3	0	2	1	1	0	.287
Redmond, C	4	0	2	0	0	0	.384
Buscher, 3B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.125
Punto, SS	4	0	0	0	0	1	.228
Gomez, CF	3	0	1	0	0	0	.265	
Batting Totals	34	4	12	4	0	3

BATTING
2B: Kubel, Redmond
RBI: Casilla, Kubel
GIDP: Young

BASERUNNING
SB: Gomez, Span

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Baker (L, 2-2)		7.0	6	6	6	2	5	6.00
Timlin			1.0	3	1	1	0	0	7.50
Guerrier		1.0	0	0	0	0	1	1.58
Pitching Totals		9.0	9	7	7	2	6

[LanteriX]

April 29th, 2009

Twins Close Out April With 5-2 Win

Minneapolis (AP) - The Twins bounced back from their disappointing loss yesterday with a 5-2 win to take the rubber game of this three game series and end April on a high note, after hitting a low with the news of Joe Mauer's injury. Mike Redmond did his best Joe Mauer impression today, however. Redmond's only hit of the game was a 2 run homer on an ugly hanging slide piece from Scott Kazmir.

Scott Kazmir did not have his best stuff today. In fact, he didn't have any stuff today. He lasted just 4 innings giving up 5 runs on 9 hits, striking out 3 and walking 1. The Rays bullpen was much more effective than their starter as Howell and Isringhausen combined to pitch 4 scoreless innings allowing just 2 more hits and 3 walks, while not striking anyone out. Francisco Liriano improved to 3-0 on the season for the Twins pitching 7 innings and giving up just 1 run on an RBI single by Willy Aybar in the 7th inning.

Every Twin in the lineup reached base at least once in what was a well-balanced attack on Kazmir. Nick Punto was the lone player without a hit, but was issued a walk. Nomar Garciaparra went 3 for 4, scoring once and driving in 1, while Justin Morneau added 2 more RBI to his team leading total bringing him up to 17 on the season.

The Twins end the month of April tomorrow with an off-day and are currently tied with the Cleveland Indians for first in the AL central with a 13-9 record.

Box Score

		1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E
TAM		0   0   0   0   0   0   1   1   0   2   7   1
MIN		0   0   1   2   2   0   0   0   X   5   11  0

				Tampa Bay Rays

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Iwamura, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	.333
Crawford, DH	4	1	2	0	0	1	.360
Upton, CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.216
Pena, 1B	2	0	0	1	1	0	.333
Burrell, LF	4	0	1	0	0	1	.220
Navarro, C	3	1	0	0	1	1	.205
Kapler, RF	3	0	1	0	1	1	.283
Aybar, 3B	4	0	1	1	0	0	.200
Barlett, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	.333
Batting Totals	31	2	7	2	3	4

BATTING
2B: Crawford (7)
RBI: Pena (11), Aybar (3)
SF: Pena
GIDP: Burrell, Aybar

FIELDING
E: Bartlett (2)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Kazmir (L, 2-2)		4.0	9	5	5	1	3	4.30
Howell			2.0	1	0	0	1	0	1.53
Isringhausen		2.0	1	0	0	2	0	3.29
Pitching Totals		8.0	11	5	5	4	3

				Minnesota Twins

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Span, RF	4	1	1	0	0	1	.318
Nomar, 3B	4	1	3	1	0	0	.314
Cuddyer, DH	4	0	2	0	0	0	.393
Morneau, 1B	3	0	1	2	1	1	.318
Young, LF	3	1	1	0	1	0	.292
Casilla, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.389
Redmond, C	4	1	1	2	0	0	.353
Punto, SS	3	0	0	0	1	0	.219
Gomez, CF	3	1	1	0	1	1	.269	
Batting Totals	32	5	11	5	4	3

BATTING
HR: Redmond (1)
RBI: Morneau 2 (17), Garciaparra (14),Redmond 2 (3)
GIDP: Casilla, Morneau, Punto

BASERUNNING
SB: Gomez (6)
CS: Cuddyer (1)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Liriano (W, 3-0)	7.0	5	1	1	3	3	4.60
Breslow			0.2	2	1	1	0	0	3.12
Crain (H, 2)		0.1	0	0	0	0	1	1.74
Nathan (S, 4)		1.0	0	0	0	0	0	1.29
Pitching Totals		9.0	7	2	2	3	4

[LanteriX]

Player Stats - April

Batters

Player		AVG	HR	RBI	R	2B	3B	SB	BB	K
M. Cuddyer	.393	4	13	13	4	0	0	4	6
A. Casilla	.389	1	6	8	3	0	5	4	9
M. Redmond	.353	1	2	2	2	0	0	0	1
D. Span		.318	2	10	19	3	2	4	5	16
J. Morneau	.318	3	17	12	6	0	0	10	14
N. Garciaparra	.314	2	14	8	3	0	0	6	9
D. Young	.292	1	14	13	8	0	1	5	15
J. Kubel	.288	1	9	9	6	0	0	6	9
J. Mauer (DL)	.280	1	12	8	2	0	0	6	14
C. Gomez	.269	1	6	11	1	0	6	2	10
N. Punto	.219	0	8	5	4	0	2	1	11
M. Tolbert	.214	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	2
B. Sucher	.125	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	1

Notes: Redmond has only had 17 ABs (6/17)

Pitchers

Player		G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	H	BB	K
M. Guerrier	10	2	1	0	1.59	11.1	7	4	8
J. Crain	9	2	0	0	1.74	10.1	5	1	9
C. Breslow	9	0	0	0	3.12	8.2	11	2	8
J. Mijares	8	0	0	0	2.16	8.1	10	3	2
J. Nathan	7	0	0	4	1.29	7.0	5	0	8
M. Timlin	6	0	0	0	7.50	6.0	12	1	3
S. Baker	5	2	2	0	6.00	30.0	36	3	17
F. Liriano	5	3	0	0	4.60	29.1	30	12	19
K. Slowey	4	1	1	0	5.06	26.2	35	4	14
G. Perkins	4	0	1	0	4.39	26.2	27	3	17
N. Blackburn	4	1	2	0	4.44	24.1	31	3	13
P. Humber	2	1	0	0	0.00	2.0	2	0	1

[LanteriX]

MLB Standings - 5/1

American League East

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Red Sox		14	8	.636	-
Rays		13	10	.565	1.5
Orioles		11	11	.500	3.0
Blue Jays	10	14	.417	5.0
Yankees		9	14	.391	5.5

American League Central

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Indians		13	9	.591	-
Twins		13	9	.591	-
White Sox	12	10	.545	1.0
Tigers		11	11	.500	2.0
Royals		9	13	.409	4.0

American League West

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Angels		12	10	.545	-
Mariners	11	11	.500	1.0
Athletics	10	12	.455	2.0
Rangers		8	14	.364	4.0

National League East

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Marlins		12	10	.545	-
Mets		11	10	.524	0.5
Braves		10	11	.476	1.5
Nationals	8	14	.364	4.0
Phillies	8	14	.364	4.0

National League Central

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Brewers		15	7	.682	-
Astros		14	8	.636	1.0
Cubs		13	9	.591	2.0
Cardinals	13	11	.542	3.0
Reds		9	13	.409	6.0
Pirates		8	14	.364	7.0

National League West

Team		W	L	PCT	GB
Diamondbacks	13	9	.591	-
Padres		13	9	.591	-
Giants		10	10	.500	2.0
Rockies		9	11	.450	3.0
Dodgers		8	14	.364	5.0

[LanteriX]

May 1st, 2009

Slowey Tosses CG Shutout

Minneapolis (AP) - Kevin Slowey was sharp in his last start throwing 8 innings and allowing just 2 runs despite scattering nine hits. What would he do for an encore? How about a complete game shutout? Slowey rolled through the Royals lineup scattering 6 hits over 9 innings, striking out 3 and improving to 2-1 on the season. The Twins needed the strong pitching performance as they managed just 3 runs on 6 hits, all off Royals starter Bannister who only lasted 5 giving up 3 runs on 6 hits. Ron Mahay turned in 3 innings of hitless relief.

The Twins runs all came in the 5th inning. Denard Span hit a sinking liner to center which Coco Crisp dove and missed at. Span would come all the way around and score an inside the park home run, driving in Nick Punto as well to make it 2-0. Then Nomar Garciaparra hit a real home run off Bannister on a first pitch fastball, his 3rd of the year. Bannister would settle down and get the next two batters to ground out to second ending the inning. The Royals manager had a bit of a quick hook as he did not send Bannister out for the 6th, despite a pitch count in the 70s, and the fact that he settled down after the two homers.

The Twins moved to 14-9 with the victory. Glen Perkins (0-1 4.39 ERA) will matchup against Luke Hochevar (1-1 3.97 ERA) in the second game of the series.

Box Score

		1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E
KCR		0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   6   1
MIN		0   0   0   0   3   0   0   0   X   3   6   1

				Kansas City Royals

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
DeJesus, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.237
Gordon, 3B	4	0	2	0	0	0	.356
Aviles, SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	.329
Jacobs, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.217
Teahen, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.291
Guillen, DH	4	0	1	0	0	1	.289
Crisp, CF	3	0	0	0	0	0	.296
Callaspo, 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	.310
Tupman, C	3	0	1	0	0	1	.263
Batting Totals	33	0	6	0	0	3

BATTING
GIDP: Aviles

FIELDING
E: Gordon (1)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Bannister (L, 1-3)	5.0	6	3	3	1	1	6.33
Mahay			3.0	0	0	0	1	1	3.75
Pitching Totals		8.0	6	3	3	2	2

				Minnesota Twins

BATTING		AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Span, CF	4	1	2	2	0	0	.326
Nomar, 3B	4	1	1	1	0	1	.311
Cuddyer, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	.367
Morneau, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	0	.307
Young, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.280
Kubel, DH	3	0	2	0	0	0	.304
Casilla, 2B	1	0	0	0	1	0	.384
Redmond, C	3	0	0	0	0	0	.300
Punto, SS	3	1	1	0	0	0	.224
Batting Totals	29	3	6	3	2	2

BATTING
HR: Span (3), Garciaparra (3)
RBI: Span 2 (12), Garciaparra (15)
SAC: Casilla
GIDP: Kubel

FIELDING
E: Redmond (1)

PITCHING		IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
Slowey (W, 2-1)		9.0	6	0	0	0	3	3.79
Pitching Totals		9.0	6	0	0	0	3