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.
