Metrodome Memories

The Twins accomplished a great morale-boosting feat when they beat the Red Sox 7-3 to gain the 4 game series win. The game started off poorly, with Boston scoring 3 times in the top of the 1st, but the hitters were able to come back and the pitchers were able to stifle the Boston offense for the rest of the game.

Instead of bowing to the 3 Boston runs to start the game, the Twins roared right back, scoring twice in the bottom of the 1st off of Justin Morneau’s single that scored 2 and then scoring twice more in the 3rd to take the lead. To make sure they won, Craig Monroe, last night’s offensive catalyst, hit a 2 RBI double in the 5th, the only extra base hit for the Twins, and then later scored on a single by Delmon Young. Joe Mauer kept hitting and scored 3 runs.

Livan Hernandez had that rough 3 run top of the 1st, including giving up a 2 run homer to Manny Ramirez, but shut down the Red Sox the rest of his start to gain his 6th win of the season. He did do it a bit on the edge, inducing 13 fly ball outs. Juan Rincon and Jesse Crain combined for the final 3 scoreless innings.

This series win is nothing short of a season highlight. They were able to put large quantities of runs across against the World Series champs. Tonight’s win is particularly impressive since out of their 11 hits, Monroe had the only extra base one. They won with the style they are almost built for, getting on base, moving runners over and bringing them home. Having won 9 of their last 12, one can certainly say they’ve put their early season struggles behind them.

The Twins got to Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield early and stayed ahead in a 9-8 win over Boston. Craig Monroe led the hitting that started a 5 run barrage in the 2nd and didn’t stop there.

Craig Monroe had a pair of home runs, a 3 run blast in the 2nd off Wakefield and a solo shot off of Mike Timlin in the 7th that put the Twins ahead for good. The other runs in the 5 run 2nd came off the bat of the defensively minded Adam Everett, for a 2 run homer, his 1st of the season. The next inning Mike Lamb hit a 2 RBI single to score Justin Morneau and Delmon Young. In the 4th, Monroe reached on an error that allowed Joe Mauer to score. Carlos Gomez continued to display his speed on the base paths, picking up his 16th stolen base of the season.

Nick Blackburn got the win in a start that had some good spots and some bad spots. He did pitch 6 innings and fanned 5, but gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and a walk. Matt Guerrier nearly made it out of the 7th, but gave up a 2 run homer to Coco Crisp. Dennys Reyes pitched a scoreless 8th to maintain his ERA of 0. Joe Nathan, who has been rock solid in the 9th for Twins, gave up 2 runs but still managed to get his 12th save of the season.

The Twins were able to put up a large number of runs against the Red Sox, but also allowed a large number of runs to them. It was a game with mixed results that has happened a few times this season. On the positive side, the team got power from Monroe and Everett, outside of the usual suspects. Also, The offense was spread over just about every hitter, and a balanced attack will be the key to success for the Twins.

Twins starter Glen Perkins, making his 1st Major League start, began strong, but could not make it out of the 7th, and the Twins lost 5-2. The Twins problem was keeping the Red Sox from hitting home runs, as the 4 solo shots were the team’s downfall.

The Twins were once again unable to muster much offense after scoring plenty of runs the previous game. Carlos Gomez drew a bases loaded walk in the 2nd and Justin Morneau drove in Matt Tolbert in the 5th with a single. Joe Mauer went without a hit in what seems like forever.

Perkins was solid through 6 innings, giving up only the first solo homer to Kevin Youkilis. However, he gave up back-to-back solo blasts to Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie to start the seventh. The 3 homers overshadowed was was a pretty decent first start for Perkins. The last of the 4 homers was given up by Brian Bass in the 8th. To make matters worst, setup man Pat Neshek might be out for the rest of the season.

The Twins have had some problems this season sustaining momentum after big games. Their thrilling comeback win last night could not be repeated tonight. However, they have won 7 of their past 10, so there is something to build on. The team has 2 more games with Boston and achieving a 4 game series split could be considered a success against the defending champs.

The Twins overcame a horrid start by Boof Bonser to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6. It came down to the wire as the win was sealed in the bottom of the 9th by Mike Lamb. Bonser blew two leads, but the hitters were able to overcome both of them to pull away with the victory in the opening game of the 4 game set with the Red Sox.

The Twins built a 2-0 lead in the 1st with an RBI groundout from Justin Morneau and an RBI single by Michael Cuddyer. They regained the lead in the next inning, starting with Adam Everett hitting a double, and Carlos Gomez reaching on a error and stealing second. Brendan Harris then brought them both home with a single. Gomez also had an RBI single in the 4th. However, the crucial hitting was of course in the 9th. Delmon Young started it off with a single, advanced to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, then stole 3rd. Gomez drew a walk, then stole 2nd again and that allowed Mike Lamb to drive them both in with the game winning hit off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Bonser had his 2nd straight start of giving up 6 runs. Right after the Twins had built the 2-0 lead in the 1st, Bonser gave up two runs in the top of the second. But the 5th inning was Bonser’s worst, as he faced 4 batters and didn’t record an out. He gave up a 2 run double to Mike Lowell and left with runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Juan Rincon came in and allowed both runners to score, including one on a wild pitch.

Anytime you can beat the defending World Series champs it’s something to remember. The Twins offense was able to outscore the loaded offense of Boston. However, it was also a reminder of just how shaky the rotation can be. Bonser hasn’t been pitching well, Nick Blackburn is uneven, Kevin Slowey just came off the DL and Scott Baker just went on it. About the only consistent starter is Livan Hernandez. The Twins hitters bailed out their starter tonight, but they can’t keep counting on that to happen every time.

What began as a promising start for Kevin Slowey, ended in disaster as a rough 5th inning erased any chance for a Minnesota victory. As a result, the Twins lost 6-2.

Both of the Twins runs came in the top of the 5th when Brendan Harris drew a walk and Adam Everett singled, then Matt Tolbert and Joe Mauer hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the Twins ahead 2-0. It was a breakthrough, as they had not been able to do much against White Sox starter John Danks. That was pretty much all the offense of the game, as the only Twins to do anything else was Michael Cuddyer, who stole two bases. The White Sox bullpen clamped down any chance of a Minnesota comeback.

Back from the DL, Slowey was cruising, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced, until he hit a wall in the bottom of the 5th. However, when Jermaine Dye led off the inning with a solo shot, it all started to come undone. Two batters later he gave up a 2 run homer. There was some excitement however, when Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected for arguing a checked swing call on Paul Konerko in the 6th inning. The call led to some confusion that allowed the Sox to pull off a double steal and have runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs.

More importantly then this loss sealing the series loss for the Twins was that it revealed the Twins greatest weakness; their inconsistency. The team has the ability to put together consistent streaks of production, they just have not been able to so far. Stymied in the first game of the series, they erupted offensively in the second game but fell back to earth tonight.

After getting one hit the day before, the Twins decided to make up for that lack of hitting in a major way, as the bats just kept going in a 13-1 win over the White Sox. Just like Gavin Floyd had his no hit bid broken up in the 9th yesterday, so did Livan Hernandez’s shutout attempt end in the 9th. It was a stellar pitching performance to go along with the offensive outpouring.

The offensive spotlight belonged to Carlos Gomez as he made history by hitting for the cycle. He began that with a solo shot to start off the game, and completed the cycle with a single in the 9th, tallying 3 RBIs in the process. Shortstop Nick Punto also had a great night as his two hits, a double and a triple, drove in 5 runs total. Catcher Mike Redmond, subbing for Joe Mauer, had 2 hits and knocked in 3 runs. Craig Monroe, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer had 2 hits each.

Hernandez pitched a gem, allowing only 5 hits entering the 9th with the shutout intact. However, with one out, Jermaine Dye homered to erase that possibility. The wheels came off a bit for Hernandez as he then loaded the bases, but he was able to work out of the jam to get the complete game and improve his record to 5-1.

The Twins wanted to bounce back after almost being held hitless yesterday and they accomplished that in a big way tonight. Hernandez answered Floyd’s outing yesterday with one that was far better. Even when they had a 7-0 lead going into the top of the 9th, they didn’t stop there, tacking on 6 more to firmly seal the deal. The offensive outburst is that much more surprising when one considers that Mauer, their most consistent hitter this season, was not in the lineup. The Twins are proving they can get it done with anyone on the squad.

After sustaining offensive production over the past 2 series, the Twins could not get anything going at all against White Sox starter Gavin Floyd, and lost 7-1.

The Twins did not even get a hit until Joe Mauer had double with one out in the top of the 9th, as they had been stymied by Floyd up until that point. However, there were able to score a run in the 4th, when after Joe Mauer walked and was moved over to 3rd, Jason Kubel hit a sacrifice fly to bring him home. The team was only able to muster 3 walks and 1 hit, all of which belonged to Mauer except for 1 walk, which went to Brendan Harris.

Twins starter Nick Blackburn did not have a very good outing, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 6 hits, including a solo shot to Jermaine Dye. Relievers Jesse Crain and Bobby Korecky didn’t do much better in their innings of work, the former giving up 2 runs and the latter 1. Blackburn has not been able to string together 2 straight solid starts as he has been uneven so far. However, he is a rookie and this is to be expected, but there’s no doubt who will be able be more consistent in the future.

Well the good fortune of the winning streak had to come to an end. Even though getting only 1 hit and 1 run is disappointing, the only thing that can really be done is to try to hit better tomorrow. What will truly test this team is if they can shake off this loss and continue keeping their recent success going, avoiding bottoming out.

The Twins overcame a very early 6 run deficit to gain the series sweep of Detroit in a 7-6 win. The Tigers put 6 runs on the board in the top of the 1st, but the home team was able to come back for a thrilling victory.

Being down by 6 certainly seems like an insurmountable lead to overcome, but that didn’t stop the Twins. The comeback started in the 4th, when Joe Mauer scored on a Justin Morneau single after hitting a double. Then in the 5th, with 2 runners on, Nick Punto drove them both in with a double. With 2 outs in the 7th, the Twins took the lead. That rally started with a Matt Tolbert double and Punto reaching base on an error. Carlos Gomez beat out an infield single to drive in Tolbert. Brendan Harris hit a ground rule double to score Punto and then Joe Mauer, who started it all, singled in Gomez and Harris to put the Twins ahead for good.

What started out as a disaster for Boof Bonser steadied out as he was able to overcome the 6 runs he gave up in the first. Going into the second, it might be expected he was still a bit shaken, but Bonser locked in and didn’t allow any more Tiger runs over his remaining 5 innings. Matt Guerrier pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win and Joe Nathan notched his 11th save and 4th in 5 games.

The importance of this win cannot be understated. Not only were the Twins able to score a significant amount of runs, but they were able to score them all in coming back from a huge deficit. The hitters never gave in and were always looking to get on base in order to score and cut into the Tigers’ lead. Bonser shook off his 6 run first inning to give the Twins the chance to come back. Both components were working in harmony to achieve one of the Twins best wins of the season so far.

Not only was it a comeback victory but it was their 5th in a row, against division rival Detroit and also gave them the sweep of the Tigers. This can only serve to increase the confidence of the team as they embark further into the season.

Twins pitching held the Tigers lineup to only one run for the second game in a row. Though the team did not score as much as yesterday, they still won 4-1 to put them atop the AL Central. Even though starter Scott Baker had to leave after 3 innings, reliever Brian Bass came in and pitched several scoreless innings in relief to hold the Tigers in check.

The Twins got the runs they needed, both by moving runners over and the long ball. Mike Lamb, who was moved up to 2nd in the batting order, scored 2 runs, being driven in by Michael Cuddyer in both the 4th and 6th innings. 2 runs would be all that was needed, but Craig Monroe added to the total with a 2 run shot in the 7th. Joe Mauer continues to hit well, getting 3 tonight.

Baker was pitching scoreless baseball, but had to leave because he re-aggravated his previous groin injury. No problem because Bass came in and pitched 4 scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits, for his 1st career win. Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth with 2 punchouts for his 10th save of the season.

The Twins have their longest winning streak of the year at 4 and everything seems to be going right for them. They are getting the pitching they need to shut down opposing teams and are also getting the runs when they are needed. The team goes for the series sweep tomorrow of the presumed AL Central champs.

All facets of the Twins’ game seemed to be working in the White Sox series. But they took all that to another level in an 11-1 dismantling of the Detroit Tigers. The offense kept driving in runs and starter Livan Hernandez kept shutting the Tigers down.

Carlos Gomez was one of the offensive stars of the game. He reached safely in all 3 at bats. He had an RBI single in the fifth but when he successfully stole second, he was hit in the head by an Ivan Rodriquez throw and had to be replaced by Nick Punto, who would eventually score. Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel both went 3 for 5, with the former getting 2 RBIs and a double and the later an RBI and a triple. Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer each had a pair of RBIs with Cuddyer getting 2 doubles. Brendan Harris belted a solo shot in the 7th to keep the scoring going.

Hernandez bounced back from his previous start to stymie what is widely viewed as one of, if not the, most potent offense in the majors. He got into a few jams but worked out of them, allowing only a solo home run to Magglio Ordonez in the second, one of 8 hits he surrendered over 7 innings. Those would be the only hits the Tigers got as Matt Guerrier and Juan Rincon pitched perfect innings in relief.

Not only did the pitching shut down a great offense, but the offense got the runs they needed to win but didn’t stop there. The Twins have their 2nd 3 game winning streak in hand and hope to make it 4 in a row tomorrow.

The Twins finished the month of April with a 13-14 record, just half a game under 500. However, they are in second place in the AL Central, a game and a half behind the White Sox. However, the division is tightly bunched with last place Kansas City trailing Chicago by 3 games.

Though their record is mediocre, the team has several bright spots, with most of them falling on the offensive side. Justin Morneau and Carlos Gomez have easily been some of the team’s best when they are up to bat. Gomez has been all that he was advertised to be when he came over in the Santana deal. He has displayed great ability in the outfield, making several highlight reel catches and has been great in stealing bases. Morneau has provided the power for a team largely starved of it, hitting 6 home runs. Jason Kubel has also been a power supplier, with 4 homers. There has been noted inconsistency with driving runs home in critical situations, as the team has left numerous runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer and Brendan Harris are the only regulars with high batting averages, .295 and .287 respectively, the next being Morneau at .268. Mauer in particular has been consistent in getting hits.

As for the pitching, it has been mostly uneven. Livan Hernandez started off well, but ran into trouble in his latest outing. Boof Bonser and Nick Blackburn have turned in both great and bad outings. Both Hernandez and Scott Baker have been homer prone and no Twins starter has an ERA under 3.50. The bullpen has been a strength, except for that Detroit series where it collapsed. Closer Joe Nathan has been automatic, with 9 saves with an 0.82 ERA. Reliever Dennys Reyes has an ERA of 0, giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks in 9 innings.

The job for the Twins moving forward is to sustain their success of the recent White Sox series. There have been short bursts of production in April, but the team hasn’t really been able to keep it going over an extended period of time. Now seems like the perfect opportunity to take that step into continued production.

The Twins again rode good pitching and hitting to an afternoon victory over the White Sox, 4-3. The win got them the two game sweep of the South Siders, their first sweep of any kind in this season.

Carlos Gomez was the offensive star of the game, going 3 for 4, scoring 2 runs, hitting an RBI double, and stealing his 11th base of the season. That puts him into 2nd in all of MLB, 2 behind Houston’s Michael Bourn. However, his most important hit was a 7th inning bunt. That allowed him to later score from third on a Justin Morneau double for the eventual winning run. That sequence capped off a game where the lead changed hands several times. Jason Kubel, who was the offensive star last night, went in the opposite direction, going 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. Potentially even more aggravating was that he stranded 3 runners in scoring position.

Nick Blackburn bounced back from his last start to provide continuing stability from the rotation. He went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking out 4. The 3 runs included giving up his first home run of the season, a 4th inning solo shot to Carlos Quentin. Joe Nathan held down the fort in the 9th for his second save in as many nights.

Although it is only a two game sweep, the Twins have to be proud of what they accomplished. There were contributions from all facets, pitching, hitting and base-running. The solid outings by Bonser and Blackburn are particularly important, since that has been an area of concern early in the season. Of course the Twins have strung together streaks like this, the goal now is to sustain the momentum and keep winning more games.

Maybe it was being back home at the Metrodome, or perhaps it was something else. Whatever it was, it seemed to help as the Twins beat the White Sox 3-1. The team got lifts both from pitching, by starter Boof Bonser, and hitting, via DH Jason Kubel.

Though it was a low scoring game, it was punctuated by Kubel’s 2 run home run in the fourth, as it was a blast that reached the upper deck. However, that wasn’t it for the Twins that inning. Delmon Young got in on the act as well. Right after Kubel, he singled, stole second, got to third on an error and scored on a sac fly by Mike Lamb. Joe Mauer tripled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Mauer’s consistency has been a bright spot for the offense as it struggles through the early season.

Bonser, who has arguably been the team’s best starter, delivered another solid outing, though this might be his best so far this season. He went 7 innings, pitching quite well through the first 6 2/3 before surrendering a homer to Sox 3rd baseman Joe Crede. During that time he scattered 6 hits, walked only one and struck out 8. All in all, a very impressive showing, the kind that the Twins need more of as the season progresses. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 8th save of the season.

The team has to be encouraged by their showing today. They had all the right ingredients, great pitching, power hitting and good baserunning. Delmon Young’s trip around the bases is particularly important because that is how the Twins will score most of their runs this season; by getting on base and moving the runners over. They will not pepper the outfield seats with balls, but will use what they have to score the runs they need.

After exploding yesterday for 12 runs, the Twins could not score any today and also could not stop them from being scored as they lost 10-0. Either it was just one of those days where things don’t seem to work out or the Twins are becoming dangerously inconsistent at the plate.

The Twins only got 7 hits and the only extra base one was a double by Matt Tolbert. Big hitters Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel were held hitless. In what is becoming an increasing problem that must be fixed somehow, the team left 7 runners on base, of which there were 3 instances where runners were in scoring position with two outs. The Twins are showing signs of choking when they need that big hit.

Livan Hernandez, he of the solid start to the season, showed it could not last as he only pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up 7 runs on 9 hits and 2 home runs. Reliever Brian Bass did perhaps better, but gave up 2 runs and even Joe Nathan looked a little shaky, giving up a home run.

Just when it looked like the Twins might put together a winning stretch, they came tumbling down to the bottom. Their number one priority from now on is working on consistently hitting and scoring runs. If they can do that, then it can make up for the little imperfections like shaky pitching or forgo the need to score a large number of runs in a small space of time. This team isn’t one to bash opponents into submission with high scoring, but they still need to produce enough to make up for what will be an erratic rotation.

The Twins overcame a rough outing by starter Scott Baker and a 3 run deficit to charge past the Rangers for the 12-6 win. The team was able to break out offensively in a big way and came through when they really needed to score.

Many Twins had great games including Delmon Young, who some feel is not living up to expectations. After the team came back from a 5-2 deficit to tie it up, Young helped bust the game open with a 2 out, 2 RBI single in the 7th. The icing on the cake was Michael Cuddyer’s 3 run homer in the 8th. Brendan Harris went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Mike Lamb got 3 hits, including a double, scored 1 run and drove in 2. The only Twin not to get a hit was leadoff man Matt Tolbert, who went 0 for 6, but did reach base on a Texas error in the 8th. He then stole 2nd and later scored on a Joe Mauer single.

Scott Baker struggled, giving up 4 runs in the third on a pair of 2 RBI hits by Josh Hamilton and David Murphy. He gave up one more run in the 5th before exiting with just one out, but on a positive note, did strike out 7 Rangers. Matt Guerrier then came in with the bases loaded but did not surrender a run. The bullpen held up the rest of the way, only allowing a run in the ninth to seal the win.

Perhaps most important of all, the Twins were abe to start a huge rally, scoring 10 runs over the space of 3 consecutive innings to pull ahead for good. This was something they had not been able to do the past few games, so it bodes well for the future. Baker had to leave his start with a groin strain, so that might raise a few eyebrows in concern, as he continues to distance himself from the problems he had in Spring Training.

The Twins jumped on Texas starter Kevin Millwood early, but the pitching was not able to hold that lead and fell to the Rangers 6-5 in 10 innings.

Justin Morneau was the offensive star, driving in all 5 of Minnesota’s runs, including an RBI single in the top of the 1st. But that was nothing compared to his 3 run homer in the third. It was a night to remember as every hit he had produced a run. Carlos Gomez and Joe Mauer had 2 hit games, with Gomez scoring 2 runs and Mauer getting a double. Michael Cuddyer, in his return from the DL, went 1 for 5.

Nick Blackburn, who had an amazing outing last time, struggled mightily, however he was able to last 6 innings, something that was needed after the bullpen pitched alot yesterday in relief of Francisco Liriano. After being given a 5 run lead in the third, Blackburn blew that lead and allowed 5 runs, on 11 hits and a walk, to the Rangers to tie it all up. The bullpen was able to hold the lead until Juan Rincon gave up the game winning run in the 10th inning.

Though it was a tough loss to take, there were several positives to take away. Morneau continues to establish himself as one of the better hitters in the league that no one really notices and the defense turned 3 double plays to add to its Major League leading total. They included a nifty one in the bottom of the 3rd. Cuddyer threw a relay to shortstop Nick Punto, who threw to Mauer to tag out Hank Blalock trying to score, then Mauer threw to third baseman Mike Lamb to tag out Jason Botts, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple.

There were also some negatives including committing 2 errors and continuing to have problems driving in runners in critical spots.

Overall, the Twins know they have things to work on and things they can fall back on as strengths and will continue to ride those to victories.

Francisco Liriano’s goal was to come out of his start after having made some progress in getting his pitches in for strikes and showing he was on the road to recovery. Liriano didn’t even make it out of the first inning. That was the beginning of an ugly 11-2 loss to the Athletics.

The game started off with promise when leadoff hitter Carlos Gomez hit a solo shot to start the game. However, the Twins only scored one more run. That was in the 5th when rookie third baseman Brian Buscher singled in catcher Mike Redmond. The team was able to muster 9 hits in all but once again had trouble getting them across home plate.

Liriano wanted to show that he was back on track, but just could not seem to find the strike zone, throwing only 15 of his 35 pitches for strikes. That lack of command led to 3 walks on top of 5 hits. He allowed 6 runs in total, all within the space of 2/3 of an inning. Long reliever Brian Bass came in and allowed 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings, including a solo homer to Donnie Murphy. Jesse Crain then pitched 2 innings and only gave up 1 run, but that was a homer, also to Murphy. Dennys Reyes and Juan Rincon were able to keep the Athletics off the board in their respective innings.

This is a major setback for Liriano. If he can’t show the ability to have consistent command at the Major League level, he faces being demoted to the bullpen or even to the Minors, as is the idea being thrown around right now. No one coming off the surgery Liriano did is expected to be lights out right away, but given what the Twins pitcher showed in 2006 and his importance to the rotation, there is added pressure for him to perform at a very high level.

The Twins weren’t able to muster enough offense to clinch a series win, as they fell to the As 3-0. The lack of offense came from their low hit total as well their inability to get runners in scoring position home.

The team was only able to generate 6 base hits, and Joe Mauer’s 9th inning double was the only extra base knock of the game. However, the As committed two errors, but the Twins were still unable to get those runners home. Down 3 to nothing in the top of the 9th, they had runners at the corners with 1 out against Athletic closer Huston Street, but Delmon Young and Jason Kubel were unable to keep the rally alive.

Boof Bonser bounced back from his last outing, pitching solidly. He gave up 2 runs on only 3 hits over 6 innings, but walking 4 and fanning only 2. No run support meant the performance turned into a loss for Bonser, who dropped to 1-4 on the season. Matt Guerrier kept it close until he gave up a solo home run to Mike Sweeney in the bottom of the eighth.

The Twins have killed late rallies the last two games and the early season theme of clutch hitting seems to have hit a snag. The Twins hitters also struck out 8 times, with Craig Monroe and Nick Punto each getting 2. That makes 18 for the series. If the team expects to hit, they must cut down on the strikeout total and have a bit more plate discipline. They only hope they can remedy these in tomorrow’s series finale.

The Twins began their Western road trip the right way, with a 5-4 win over the Athletics in Oakland. The Twins jumped ahead by 3 by the top of the fifth, but the A’s responded in the bottom frame with 2 runs. It was a back and forth game as Oakland took the lead before the Twins regained it late.

The offensive star was DH Craig Monroe. He went 3 for 4 with a double and a solo shot in the 7th, while being involved with every run the team scored. He crossed the plate himself twice and drove in the other 3. However, he struck out with runners on the corners and two outs in the 8th to kill that rally. Mike Lamb had a similar line as Monroe, with 3 hits, sans the homer and only 1 RBI. Jason Kubel had the other RBI. The team didn’t execute in certain situations, stranding 7 runners and striking out 10 times, most of which belonged to Carlos Gomez. He struck out 4 times in 4 at bats.

Showing steady veteran presence early on in the season, Livan Hernandez started off well through the first 4 innings, but then struggled in his last two, including surrendering a solo shot to Emil Brown in the 6th. He ended with 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks but managed to strike out 3 As. Juan Rincon and Pat Neshek pitched scoreless innings in relief and Joe Nathan shut it all down in the 9th for his 7th save of the season. Nathan has been automatic so far, and is on pace for about 56 saves.

The Twins continued getting those clutch RBIs, with two of the 5 runs coming with 2 outs. This is very important for the Twins to establish since timely hitting is something that can turn games completely around. More importantly this type of hitting is coming from various players, not just the big swingers. Spreading out the scoring makes the lineup more potent since just about anyone can be counted on to get that critical hit or drive in that needed run.

Finally, something must be said about Hernandez. Though he started the season well, this could perhaps be the start of a downturn of sorts. While over the course of the past few season he has been more or less solid, there are times where he just can’t seem to get it done. While this happens to every pitcher, the Twins need Hernandez to be especially on the ball every time out since he is filling a sort of veteran leader role, propping up the rotation in a way.

The Twins were once again clutch when it was needed as they won the series finale with Cleveland 2-1. It was a game of continuing trends as Carlos Gomez continued his heroics in center field, Justin Morneau kept hitting and the Twins kept getting those clutch hits. The defense turned a double play, not as many as yesterday’s 4, but the team still leads all of baseball in that category.

Morneau’s hit was clutch but other Twins paved the way offensively. Brendan Harris had the biggest output, going 3 for 5. His solo home run in the third tied the game at 1 and he scored the winning run in the 10th, when Morneau knocked him in with an RBI single. Jason Kubel and Nick Punto each had 2 hit games. Another story was Brian Buscher, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester yesterday and started at third today, getting a double.

Another good story in a game full of them is starter Scott Baker’s performance. He dealt with some troubles in Spring Training, but they weren’t evident in his outing, he threw 7 innings of 1 run ball, giving up 5 hits, walking 1 and fanning 8. Dennys Reyes, Pat Neshek and Matt Guerrier each pitched scoreless innings in relief. The bullpen has bounced back from its troubles in Detroit to provide solid pitching late in games.

The biggest moments came late when Gomez made a game-saving catch in the 9th and Morneau brought home Harris in the 10th. In addition both RBIs, Morneau’s game-winning single and Harris’ homer, came with two outs. Most of their runs the past few series have come with two outs, so the Twins are developing a needed habit of coming through when it’s really needed.

The team has a day off before it heads out on a short road trip to the West. The trip opens up with three in Oakland and then ends with three against Texas.

The Twins returned the favor to the Indians today by keeping them off the scoreboard in a 3-0 win. Rookie Nick Blackburn pitched brilliantly for his first Major League win behind some phenomenal defense and Justin Morneau paced the offense.

The Twins jumped on Indians starter Jake Westbrook early. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 1st and Joe Mauer on after a fielder’s choice, Justin Morneau launched his 5th home run of the season. Carlos Gomez followed suit in the second, singling home Mike Lamb. That would be all the runs in the game, but not all the offense. On his 25th birthday, Mauer was able to add a double. Morneau chipped in a single on top of his home run. In addition, Craig Monroe went 2 for 3 with a double.

Blackburn was magnificent, tossing 7 2/3 shutout innings, giving up 8 hits, no walks and striking out 1. The name of his game was the groundball as 14 of the outs he recorded came off groundouts. Dennys Reyes threw three pitches for 1 out on his birthday and Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

Blackburn turned in a great performance, but it was as much due to his pitching that he got the win as it was to the defense behind him. The Twins were able to turn 4 inning-ending double plays, that felt almost automatic as they were executed. This was in addition to several infield stops that saved hits. The defense was not just limited to the infield, as Delmon Young made a few great catches and saved a run when he threw out Indian second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, who was trying to score from 2nd on a single by Casey Blake. Both Carlos Gomez and Jason Kubel made near great catches that went in and out of their gloves, but otherwise were flawless in the field.

The very strong defense will be a constant theme throughout the season and something the team will rely heavily on. As well, Blackburn’s start is encouraging as the rookie fought his way into the starting rotation and it is only hoped he can build on his performance today.

Francisco Liriano made no forward progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and the Twins couldn’t muster any offense, as they fell to the Indians 4-0. It was an all around disappointment, as they were stymied all night long by Indians starter Cliff Lee.

The offense was abysmal as the Twins were only able to get three hits, all singles, by Matt Tolbert, Joe Mauer and Nick Punto. The only other Twin that got on base was Delmon Young, who drew a walk off of Lee.

Liriano struggled yet again on his path to regain his 2006 form. He gave up only 4 hits over 5 innings while fanning 3, but those went along with 5 walks and they all created 3 runs. Reliever Juan Rincon pitched 2 innings but gave up a solo shot to Casey Blake in the 7th. Jesse Crain pitched perfect in the 8th and 9th as the pitching was able to avoid using too many relievers a day after long reliever Brian Bass was injured and Matt Guerrier threw almost 4 innings.

They were alot of negatives from this game including the lack of offense, but that is due as much to the Twins inability to hit as it was to the brilliant outing by Lee. The only real positive was the fact that there was no need to overwork the bullpen in the temporary absence of both Twin long relievers.

Boof Bonser most certainly did not live up to the status as having one of the best names in baseball as he couldn’t pitch well at all and the Twins lost to the Rays 7-3. After a strong few starts he hit a wall and the Twins were unable to get the sweep, albeit of a two game series.

Several Twins did have nice offensive outings. Carlos Gomez, Matt Tolbert and Justin Morneau each had two hits, with Tolbert and Morneau each smacking a double. The other hits came from Joe Mauer and Delmon Young, and those were both RBI singles. The Twins continued a nice trend of 2 out RBI hits with Mauer’s hit being one and Tolbert getting the other. Denard Span did score a run and steal a base but he committed two errors in right field, not really building his case for playing time as Michael Cuddyer nears his return.

Bonser just could not get it together, giving up 7 runs, 6 earned, on 7 hits, 2 walks, no strikeouts and a homer to Eric Hinske. After pitching to 4 batters in the fifth and not recording an out, Brian Bass came in to log several innings, but after surrending a hit and walk while only recording one out, a strike out Rays über-prospect Evan Longoria, he had to leave, suffering from a low back strain. He is listed as day-to-day. The other long reliever, Matt Guerrier was called upon, with the bases loaded, to also log some innings, and not get hurt of course. He was nearly flawless, allowing only 3 hits over 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Though Boof majorly goofed and Bass went down, Guerrier’s outing is great news as a few nights ago as he was partly repsponsible for blowing a 4 run lead in Detroit. The use of both long relievers, Bass being injured and Guerrier getting major work, does not bode well for tomorrow when Francisco Liriano takes the mound as he went just 4 2/3 innings his last outing. So the Twins better hope their middle relievers can pitch a couple innings each.

Changing their name and look doesn’t seem to be working for Tampa Bay so far this season as they fell to the Twins 6-5. Unlike the last two games, tonight the Twins bullpen held up and it was the starter that struggled.

The team put together a good offensive effort, highlighted perhaps by Carlos Gomez, who is fast becoming an emerging threat on the basepaths. His two hits set the table for the two bases he stole off of Rays starter James Shields, one of which led to him scoring a run. Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel further victimized Shields by each hitting a double off of him. But Joe Mauer had a better preformance, going 3 for 4, scoring 2 runs and getting an RBI. The Twins were clutch with Mauer, Kubel and Brendan Harris each getting 2 out RBIs.

After solid outings to start the season, Livan Hernandez struggled giving up 5 runs, 3 earned, and 8 hits over 6 innings while walking 3 and striking out 2. Even more painful were the home runs he gave up to Carl Crawford, Eric Hinske and Shawn Riggans. Dennys Reyes, Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan combined to shut down the Rays the rest of the way, with Rincon getting the win and Nathan getting the save.

The obvious positive for the game was that the bullpen was actually able to hold a lead. Others are the offensive performances by the Twins hitters. However, Hernandez’s start is cause for concern. He is a solid pitcher, nothing more and no where near a staff ace. He can be maddeningly inconsistent and pitch poorly at the most crucial times. He will log a large load of innings, but the hitters better be ready to score alot of runs when he does.

The Twins better hope the recent trend of bullpen failures doesn’t continue for very long. It was the cause of their 6-5 loss to the Tigers. The eighth inning was again the culprit as a solid effort by Scott Baker went to waste.

Carlos Gomez doubled, stole third and scored when Joe Mauer grounded into a fielder’s choice to start off the game. Mauer again drove in a run, with an RBI single to move Matt Tolbert home in the third.  Justin Morneau hit a 2 run shot, his 4th of the season, in the sixth.

Baker went seven strong for the Twins giving up 3 runs all on solo home runs by Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonex and Carlos Guillen. Then Jesse Crain came in to start the eighth and gave up three runs that would become the difference in the game. Crain gave up a double to Ordonez that scored Placido Polanco. Miguel Cabrera then launched a 2 run jack shortly thereafter.

Of course the bullpen’s performance the past two games has been disappointing, but there is not much that can be done except to keep giving the relievers chances to redeem themselves. The bullpen is too good to be this bad for any extended period of time.

The Twins return from their first road trip of the season for a 5 game homestand, starting with a pair against Tampa Bay and then a weekend trio with divisional foe Cleveland.

Having been one of the Twins biggest strengths, the bullpen was horrid in an 11-9 loss to the Tigers. A 4 run lead was blown and overshadowed some great offensive performances.

Despite the pitching woes, several Twins had multiple hits and RBIs. Delmon Young went 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs, a double and a stolen base, Justin Morneau had a two RBI single and both Jason Kubel and Brendan Harris went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Mike Lamb chipped in an RBI as well. Carlos Gomez added to his stolen base total with a swipe of 2nd base and Denard Span had 2 hits. Span will most likely be headed back to Triple A soon with the impending return of Michael Cuddyer.

Rookie Nick Blackburn was pitching well through the first 5 innings but ran out of luck in the sixth. He gave up 4 straight 2 out hits which would eventually become Tiger runs. The two teams traded up giving up runs until the eighth when Matt Guerrier and Pat Neshek combined to give up 6 runs on several hits, a throwing error and a sac fly.

The bullpen which was pegged as a strength that would need to back up a young rotation experienced its first major setback. It was just one of those days that are bound to happen several times during the course of the season. Although the relievers need to refocus and avoid making mistakes, they should shake it off and be ready to answer the next call to the mound.

The long anticipated return of Francisco Liriano did not go the way some be expected, as the Twins lost to the Royals 5-1, unable to complete the sweep. Liriano looked nothing like the pitcher who dominated in 2006, but then again who really expected him to?

The Twins’ lone run came at the beginning of the game in the first when Brendan Harris reached second on a throwing error and later scored on Justin Morneau’s 2-out RBI single. The team’s only other hits were singles by Jason Kubel and Adam Everett.

Handed a lead before he even got on the mound, Liriano couldn’t make it stick. He gave a run in the bottom of the first when Joey Gathright scored on a single by Billy Butler. Liriano gave up another in the second before giving up 2 more in the fourth. The 4 runs he gave up in 4 2/3 innings were off of 6 hits and 5 walks, but he was able to get 4 Ks. He was clearly outplayed by Royals starter Brian Bannister, who pitched the whole game.

Liriano wasn’t expected to come out and get 10 Ks or pitch a complete game his first try, so fans shouldn’t put too much stock into his struggles in his first game back. However, there is still some work to do before he can get back to his 2006 form.

Jason Kubel supplied the offense and Boof Bonser supplied the pitching in the Twins’ second straight shutout win over the Royals, 2-0. The team kept its momentum going and got more great performances on another very cold night.

Though limited to just 2 runs, the offense was still evident. The runs came from Kubel’s second inning solo homer and he later scored in the seventh off of Denard Span’s RBI single. The home run was the Twin’s only extra base hit of the game. Like Kubel, Brendan Harris, Nick Punto and Span each had two hits, while Delmon Young had one.

Like Hernandez last night, Bonser shut out the Royals. He scattered 3 hits over 6 innings while walking 2 and fanning 4. Matt Guerrier and Pat Neshek pitched scoreless innings and Joe Nathan recorded his 4th save of the season in the ninth.

The Twins look to go for the sweep, but it will not be the only motivation for the team. Francisco Liriano will be making his first start since Tommy John surgery. The team hopes he can get back into the groove of things and get back to his pre-surgery form.

The Twins battled the cold and a recently surging opponent to shutout the Royals 5-0. It was due to a combination of great pitching by Livan Hernandez and some great performances by the team’s young players.

The bulk of the offense came in the second off of Royal starter Gil Meche. After the first two Twins walked, Denard Span hit a single for the first Major League RBI of his career. Carlos Gomez then doubled in 2 more and Matt Tolbert capped it off with an RBI single, which was one of his 3 hits for the game. The remaining run came just an inning later when Justin Morneau blasted a solo shot. That was his third of the season, all of which have come against the Royals, so it bodes well that the Twins play them so much.

Certainly the youth powering the offense was great, but Livan Hernandez certainly was the main cause for win, pitching 7 shutout innings while giving up 7 hits and only 1 walk. He was able to pitch himself out of a few jams without surrendering any runs. This can only be good for  the Twins, having a solid veteran presence at the top of a young rotation.

The team was able weather the elements for an impressive W. All facets of their game was great and this should be used as a stepping stone to further performances of the same nature.

Thursday’s finale against the White Sox was postponed due to rain. It has been moved back to June 9th, which had previously been an off day for both teams. That game will now serve as the finale of what had originally been a three game series and is now 4. The Twins head to Kansas City for a 3 game weekend set against the Royals, but the forecast isn’t looking good.

The Twins can only hope the surprise day off doesn’t cool their bats and that they can keep the momentum going in an important divisional series.