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.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I believe the bullpen will come back strong just like Cavendish
did when he pipped Boonen at the line today at Scheldeprijs
Vlaanderen. The yougnsters have to start winning sooner or later.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
First of all, this is a baseball blog and Boonen needs to be knocked down a notch or two. Oh and you spelled youngsters wrong.