Metrodome Memories

It’s been a series to forget for the Twins and today’s game wasn’t any different. They couldn’t seize the chance for victory and were once again overpowered by Yankees and fell in the finale 5-1. This is their 4th straight loss.

The team couldn’t do anything against Mike Mussina and their only run came after he exited the game. Frustration abound as chances slipped away and helmets were thrown and bats broken. Starter Glen Perkins even snapped at second baseman Alexi Casilla at one point. Just like yesterday, one inning was the Twins undoing. Perkins had been cruising, but gave up 2 runs in the 5th and 3 more in the 6th.

It seems the Twins have hit a new bottom with all the outward showings of frustration. The good thing is that this series is over and they have a day off to rest and get ready to get back on track. The Twins got swept by the Red Sox earlier in the month, but bounced back with a good series against Detroit, so they’re hoping for a repeat of that.

Trying to shake off last night’s game, the Twins started off on the right track, and got a lead over the Yankees. However, one bad inning and the Yankees started to pull away, and the Twins ended up with an 8-2 loss.

The Twins tried to put some runs across, but came up empty until the 6th. The team played some smallball to get their runs. Carlos Gomez got a double, was moved over to 3rd by Denard Span’s single and then scored on an error. Span later scored himself on a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the inning, things fell apart for the Twins. Kevin Slowey had been pitching solidly until then, but gave up a two run homer to Bobby Abreu. Thing only got worse from there. Jesse Crain allowed 4 runs in the 7th without getting an out.

The Twins had the lead, but let it slip away from them. It will be a test to see how they play tomorrow, as they try to avoid the sweep. They have a critical series against the White Sox coming up, so they must be ready to tackle that challenge.

The Twins headed into their series at Yankee Stadium full of confidence with their recent winning trend. However, that ground to a halt earlier tonight as they were unable to overcome the Yankees, and lost 12-4.

As large as the deficit at the end was, the Twins battled back earlier to tie it at 2 in the 2nd, including a close play at home in which Brendan Harris was ruled safe. The 2 other runs the scored were not enough to overcome the Yankees.

Nick Blackburn had a night to forget. He gave up 6 runs, and lasted just 1 2/3 innings, before giving way to Boof Bonser. Bonser didn’t fare much better, surrendering 4 runs of his own. The rest of the relievers were able to stop the damage somewhat, but by that point the Yankees were too far ahead.

The Twins were riding high and believed they could continue winning. One loss isn’t going to deter them, as they still have a chance to win the series, they just have to leave tonight’s game behind them and focus on tomorrow.

Unlike yesterday, in which the Twins seemed to hit every other pitch that was thrown to them, they couldn’t get anything going against the Rangers earlier today and one mistake by Scott Baker led to a 1-0 loss.

The Twins were only able to muster 3 hits against the Rangers and a few mistakes foiled any chance of getting some offense started. Starter Scott Baker pitched great, throwing 8 innings, fanning 8 and gave up only 2 hits, but one of those hits was a solo home run in the 6th that proved to be the difference maker. He had been throwing a perfect game up to that point.

This was just one of those hard luck games. Baker’s one mistake led to the loss, but he can take solace in the fact that he pitched so well other then the home run. The team came out of the gate after the All Star Break firing on all cylinders and this tough loss will certainly not hamper them.

The Twins’ offense took off in a big way tonight, as they battered the Rangers pitchers all night long en route to a 14-2 victory. Justin Morneau paced the attack that included 4 home runs.

The home run barrage included blasts by Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Morneau and Brian Buscher. However, the home runs only made up 6 of the 14 runs. The offense came alive in other ways as Morneau also added a 3 run double to bring his RBI total to 5 and Craig Monroe, Denard Span and Carlos Gomez all broke hitless streaks.

Livan Hernandez started by surrendering a 2 run homer in the 2nd, but settled in and finished strong in 7 innings total. It was a night where Hernandez continued his streak of good pitching at home.

The Twins continue to win and tonight won big. The All Star Break didn’t even faze them as they flexed some power not usually associated with this team. The team hopes they can continue the winning as they get closer to the AL Central lead.

The Twins began the 2nd half of their season with a big 6-0 shutout of the Texas Rangers. The bats came alive and the pitching was able to hold down the Rangers offense.

The scoring started when Brian Buscher singled in Home Run Derby winner Justin Morneau in the 4th. Brendan Harris would add an RBI single in the 6th, but the Twins busted it open in the 7th, scoring 4 runs and chasing Texas starter Kevin Millwood out of the game.

Starter Glen Perkins did quite well, throwing 6 shutout innings, while allowing only 3 hits. Craig Breslow, Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser held down the fort to complete the shutout.

The Twins entered the All Star Break on a huge winning trend and with tonight’s victory, they appear to be set to continue. The team shut down a good Texas offense and are primed to continue their chase for the AL Central.

The Twins had been on a high after winning three straight close games against the Tigers and were hoping to get the 4 game sweep earlier today. But alas, they could not pull it off and lost to Detroit 4-2.

Both of the Twins’ runs came in the 4th, with Joe Mauer scoring on a wild pitch and Brendan Harris continuing to produce with an RBI single. Starter Nick Blackburn was solid giving up 3 runs and 5 hits over 7 innings. Brian Bass would give up the remaining Tiger run in the 8th.

Despite heading into the All Star Break with a loss, the Twins are very happy with their position. They’ve kept winning and winning over the past month and established themselves as a legitimate contender for the AL Central, all in a season when most expected them to hover at the bottom of the standings.

The Twins’ confidence just keeps on growing and growing as they keep winning. They did it again today, winning 6-5 for their third one run victory in a row. They were led by Brenddan Harris and Joe Mauer and held off a late rally by the Tigers to achieve the series victory.

Harris was the offensive catalyst, generating the 1st 2 Twin runs on RBI singles. Deciding that was not enough, he added a solo homer in the 7th. Not to be outdone, later in the inning Joe Mauer hit a 2 run shot and Harris would drive in one more in the 8th to complete his night.

Starter Scott Baker pitched a solid outing, giving up a 2 run homer in the 4th, until the 8th when he exited after giving up another 2 run shot. The Tigers added one more run, but the Twins’ bullpen was able to hold them off and keep the lead intact. Overall, it was just what the Twins needed. Baker kept the Tigers off balance off for most of his start, except for the 2 homers.

It’s safe to say the Twins have put the Boston series behind them. They’ve been able to play their brand of baseball, getting runners on, moving them over and then bringing them home. They’ve been helped by solid starting pitching and a great bullpen. A win tomorrow to get the 4 game series sweep over divisional rival Detroit would only serve to further bolster their confidence and lead over the Tigers.

The Twins rode solid pitching and timely hitting to a 3-2 victory over the Tigers tonight. It was a game of the Twins taking advantage of oppurtunities when they got them, but they also missed out on a few that could’ve built their lead.

Down 1-0 in the 4th, Brian Buscher singled and was later driven in by a Nick Punto double. It was the 7th that could’ve been big. Up 2-1, they had the bases loaded when Delmon Young hit a sac fly to go up 3-1, but Brendan Harris struck out with 2 on to end the inning. The Twins had also had runners in scoring position in the 1st few innings, but couldn’t capitalize.

Starter Glen Perkins started out solidly, getting through the 1st 6 innings relatively unscathed, allowing a run and getting out of a few jams. But in the 7th, he loaded the bases and allowed a sac fly before he was pulled with two outs. The bullpen was able to hold the lead and Joe Nathan rebounded from his rough 9th inning last night to get the save.

The Twins keep winning and creeping closer to the White Sox atop the AL Central. To keep winning and putting distance between themselves and the Tigers is huge heading into the All Star Break. This way they can rest up a bit and be ready to resume their division hunt. A win tomorrow to gain the series victory would only serve to further build their confidence.

The Twins had just come out of a very dissapointing series against Boston where everything just didn’t seem to go their way. However, when the chips were down earlier today, the team fought back and Justin Morneau sealed the 7-6 win in extra innings.

Despite being put into an early hole, the Twins battled back. The day belonged to Morneau, Nick Punto and Denard Span, who had 11 of the 15 Twin hits and scored 6 of the 7 runs. The three led the comeback that was able to send the game into extra innings. But, it was Morneau’s solo blast in the top of the 11th that was the winning run and the most important hit of the night.

Starter Kevin Slowey did not do well at all, giving up 6 runs in only 3 2/3 innings, despite being given an early lead. However, the bullpen stepped up to the challenge and the relievers redeemed themselves after their recent struggles. They shut down the Tiger offense and gave their hitters the chance to complete the comeback.

This is a huge win for the Twins and it was just the thing the team needed after the Boston series. The game was especially important for the bullpen, since they were handed the chance to redeem themselves and succeded. It did wonders for the team’s confidence as they head into the rest of this important series against a diviional rival.

The Twins were hoping to avoid the series sweep at the hands of the Red Sox and salvage something earlier today. Unfortunately, things did not turn out like that, as the Red Sox broke out the bats in a big way and ended up with an 18-5 bashing of the Twins.

The Twins actually got off to a good start, scoring 3 runs in the 1st inning, including Justin Morneau’s 13th home run of the season. They were able to keep pace with the Sox by scoring 2 in the 6th to pull within one, and they had some chances to rally, but that would be when Boston would pull away.

Despite being given a 3 run lead, starter Livan Hernandez was not able to hold it, giving up 6 runs and 11 hits over 4 1/3 innings. However, the 7th was when it started to fall apart. The Sox poured on the runs over the next innings and turned the game into an ugly scene for the Twins. Manager Ron Gardenhire wasn’t even able to see most of it, as he was ejected in the 7th, before it got really ugly.

The Twins had such high hopes for this series. They were hoping to get even closer to the White Sox at the top of the AL Central and had so much confidence, coming off their recent long winning trend. Although this loss was very demoralizing for the Twins, there’s really no place to go but up from here. They are still within striking distance of the division lead and have bounced back from big losses before.

Over the course of the season, the Twins’ bullpen has been one of its strengths, holding down leads and securing wins. Lately, it seems like that hasn’t been the case. They let a tie game slip into a 1-0 loss last night and let another lead disappear as the Red Sox rallied for the 6-5 win.

The Twins started their run scoring in the 4th, when Brendan Harris tripled in 2 runs and would later score himself. He would score again in the 7th and Delmon Young would add an RBI single in the 8th. The offense was able to keep Boston at bay until they rallied back.

For the second straight game, a Twins starter had a good start. This time Nick Blackburn kept his team in the game by allowing just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. However, it was relievers Dennys Reyes and Matt Guerrier who gave up 4 runs between them to Boston in the bottom of the eighth to give Boston the momentum and the victory.

The bullpen has dropped the ball once more, but they went through a similar stretch earlier in the season and they righted themselves and went back to their old ways. So the team need not worry, because the bullpen will look to rebound tomorrow and help to prevent a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox.

The Twins recent roll came to a somewhat abrupt end as they were unable to muster a victory against the Red Sox and fell 1-0 in a tight game. In a game starved for offense, good pitching was essential and the Sox got the better in that department.

The Twins struggled all night long to get any sort of offense as they could only get 6 hits off Boston pitchers. Twins starter Scott Baker turned in a very good start, shutting out the Sox for the 7 innings he pitched. But in the 8th, Brian Bass gave up a RBI single to Manny Ramirez to make it 1-0 Boston and that was all.

It was a tough loss to take for the Twins, as they had a few chances to put runs across but couldn’t capitalize on them. It could even be a victory that they were able to contain the high scoring Boston offense for so long. However, this is only the first game of the series and the Twins did very well against the Red Sox in their other series earlier in the season.

The Twins were primed for the sweep earlier today. However, they did struggle early against Tribe starter Cliff Lee, but put together one of their patented rallies to pull off a 4-3 victory.

Lee stymied the Twins’ hitters for most of the game, but the Twins prevailed in the 7th. A walk and three straight hits scored a run and loaded the bases. Denard Span drew a walk to bring in the tying run, then a Carlos Gomez groundout put the Twins ahead.

Starter Glen Perkins was somewhat uneven, but kept his team in the game. After allowing a run, he threw 3 scoreless frames before giving up a 2 run homer to Johnny Peralta in the 6th, lasting 7 innings.

Not only have the Twins been winning, but they’ve been able to come from behind a number of times. Even when the chips are down, the team battles back to get the victory. With today’s win, the Twins are now 19-4 since their 6 game losing streak in early June.

Just like has happened a number of times so far in the season, the Twins found themselves trailing early, but just like they’ve also done, they came back, this time for a 9-6 victory over the Indians.

The Twins found themselves in an early hole when the Indians put up 5 runs in the 2nd, but the team pulled to within 1, with help from a Craig Monroe 2 RBI double in the 1st, and a Denard Span RBI single and a Joe Mauer solo home run in the 4th. Then in the 6th, the Twins matched the Tribe’s 2nd inning by scoring 5 of their own, batting around and drawing 4 walks. Starter Kevin Slowey had that bad 2nd inning, surrendering those 5 runs, but he settled down and had a stretch of retiring 14 of 15 batters.

This is the best kind of win, coming back from a deficit and Slowey, even after that 2nd inning, was able to get back in a rthymn and not allow things to get away from him. The team took advantage of its chances and was able to get the runs they needed and much more. They go for the series sweep tomorrow.

What has started as an important stretch of games for the Twins has been going the way they want it to go. After getting the series win against the Tigers, the team kept rolling with an offensively explosive 12-3 win over the Indians.

Delmon Young led the offense, going 3 for 4, scoring 3 runs, and driving in 4. 3 of those RBIs came on a 3 run homer in the 3rd. Young wasn’t the only Twin to have a great day at the plate. Nick Punto drove in 4 runs, including a solo homer in the 1st, Justin Morneau had a pair of doubles and RBIs and Brian Buscher had an RBI double.

Livan Hernandez did not have a good outing at all the last time he faced Cleveland and got some measure of revenge this time. He gave up 3 runs and 5 hits over 6 innings for his 9th win of the season. The bullpen continued their solid play and stifled any chance of a comeback by the Indians.

The Twins keep rolling on towards the All Star break, but more importantly they are doing it against divisional opponents. Even if Cleveland isn’t immediately near them in the standings, it is important that they get these wins in order to create space in the AL Central and the confidence needed to continue their winning ways.

Though the Twins did beat Detroit last night, they had several chances to pad their lead, but did not take advantage of them. That was not the case today as they took advantage of their chances and shutout the Tigers 7-0. However, it was a defensive play that started it all.

With two Tigers on base and 2 outs in the 3rd, shortstop Nick Punto made a mind boggling grab of a ball behind 2nd base. Then from the ground he tried to flick it, which turned into it rolling, to Alexi Casilla, covering 2nd, who had to stretch out to scoop it up while keeping his foot on the bag. That play was the spark the Twins needed. They scored 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning, all of them with 2 outs. Joe Mauer started it with a 2 run single. The inning might have ended right after that, but Justin Morneau reached on an error. The Twins then rattled off 4 straight singles to score 3 runs and make it 5-0. They would tack on 2 more to make it 7 total.

Nick Blackburn was great. He threw 7 shutout innings, limiting the Tigers to just 3 hits, while fanning 4. He was able to throw his pitches effectively and keep the Tiger hitters off balance. The bullpen nailed down the win by finishing off the shutout.

Such a complete win over a divisional opponent is an immense confidence booster, especially given the Twins are in a stretch of tough games. Now they host Cleveland for 3 games, then embark on a road trip before the All Star Break that includes 3 in Boston and 4 in Detroit. This win will give them that much more of a boost heading into those games.

Tonight the Twins were looking to even up an important AL Central matchup against the Detroit Tigers. Craig Monroe was hoping to do well against his former team. Both succeeded, as the Twins won 6-4 to even the series.

Monroe got the offense started with a 3 run homer in the 4th to push the Twins ahead 3-1. He nearly hit another one later, but it went just foul. The team added 3 more runs an inning later on an RBI double by Alexi Casilla and a 2 run single by Mike Redmond to put the Twins ahead for good, 6-1.

Starter Scott Baker started off great, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. He left after going 6 innings with no walks and 5 Ks, and giving up 3 runs, including one on a wild pitch. The bullpen redeemed themselves from last night by holding down the lead to ensure the win.

Anytime a team wins against a divisional opponent it has to be good. Especially with the streaking Tigers climbing back towards the top of the AL Central and the Twins trying to keep pace with the division leading White Sox. The Twins will go for the series win tomorrow in hopes of putting even more space between them and Detroit.

During the Twins’ recent winning streak, the bullpen had been one of the most important parts, holding down leads and keeping the team in the game. However, such was not the case tonight as the bullpen blew a lead and the Twins lost 5-4.

The team built a 4-1 lead by the 7th in part due to 3 Tiger errors. 2 of the errors benefited Joe Mauer, as he was able to knock in a run on one and score a run himself on the other. The Twins tagged Tigers starter Armando Galarraga for 2 more as they built their lead. His Twins counterpart fared much better. Glen Perkins was solid, giving up 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings of work, including one in the 7th. The bullpen was not able to hold the lead as they allowed 3 Tiger runs to make it a 5-4 ballgame.

It was a tough loss for the Twins. The bullpen didn’t accomplish what they set out to do, but every team has nights of this kind. However, the Twins’ bullpen is too good to let this affect them. They’ve been through these kinds of downturns before this season and will get back on track.

The Twins got back on the winning track behind starter Kevin Slowey, who pitched a shutout in a 5-0 victory. It was all Slowey as he stymied the Brewer hitters all night long.

What is most impressive about the Twins’ 5 runs was that they all came with two outs. It started in the 4th with Joe Mauer’s double and Jason Kubel would later knock him in with a single. That would be all the offense Slowey would need, but the Twins put 4 more on the board, including a 2 run homer by Delmon Young.

Whatever way the Twins scored their runs, it took a backseat to Slowey. He allowed only 3 hits the entire game and had a career high 8 strikeouts. It was his 2nd complete game of the season and a gem that is sure to motivate him to try and match it.

The Twins themselves couldn’t have imagined that they’d get back to winning in such a fashion. The offense held up their end, but Slowey was masterful in one of the best, if not the best, start by a Twin this season. It boosts the Twins’ confidence in so many ways and is a good start to another long winning streak.

The magic of the past 10 wins for the Twins came to an end today, as they fell to the Brewers, 5-1. All the hallmarks of the streak, timely hitting and solid starting pitching, were not to be seen in this game.

The Twins struggled all night long to get any sort of offense. They were held in check by the Brewer pitchers and only got 3 hits total in the game. The lone run came on a Jason Kubel solo shot in the 9th. Starter Livan Hernandez did not continue the streak’s trend of good starting pitching. He allowed 4 walks, and all 5 runs he gave up came in the 1st 3 innings. However, he did last through the 7th.

This kind of game was looming for the Twins. After being so good for so long, they were bound to have a game where nothing seemed to work. Now that the pressure of continuing the winning is off, they can work on starting another streak.

The Twins aren’t known as a team that mashes alot of homers, with Justin Morneau being their only true power threat. However, that label was non existent tonight as the team rode 3 homers to a 7-6 victory over the Brewers and their 10th straight win.

The ‘barrage’ started in 1st, when Alexi Casilla hit a solo homer to make it 1-0. Jason Kubel added another solo shot in the 4th, in addition to hitting a sac fly and scoring a run himself. Tied 6-6 in the 8th, Joe Mauer completed the solo homer hat trick by launching one of his own for the go-ahead run.

However much offense the Twins got from their home runs, starter Nick Blackburn was victimized by the Brewer hitters. He allowed 6 runs, all on 4 homers, in 4 2/3 innings of work. The bullpen was able to cool off the Brewers, giving the offense the chance to come back.

One can bet the Twins are enjoying the ride they’re on, the streak having reached double digits. One major takeaway from tonight’s win is although Blackburn struggled, the offense and bullpen were able to pick up the slack and give the Twins the chance to win.

Hat tricks in hockey are a great offensive accomplishment, but hat tricks of sweeps in baseball are even better. That’s exactly what the Twins did earlier today, as they beat the Padres 4-3, to sweep them and get their 3rd sweep in a row, extending their winning streak to 9.

Faced with another early deficit, the Twins did not falter, charging back to take the lead. Justin Morneau hit a 2 run homer in the 4th and he would add an RBI single in the 5th. More importantly he scored starter Scott Baker, who got his 1st career hit. Brian Buscher’s bloop hit in the 6th scored Jason Kubel and the Twins took the lead for good.

Baker had struggled early, giving up 3 runs to the Padres in the 1st 3 innings he pitched, but he settled down, and more then likely gained confidence from his own hit. He was helped by some stellar defense. In the 6th, with the tying run on 3rd, Buscher made a great grab and across-the-body throw home to prevent a run from scoring. The bullpen put the clamps on the Padres, including Joe Nathan’s 21st save of the season.

The Twins have been playing so good lately, it almost seems automatic. Every component of their game is in perfect working order and they are getting production from many different players. Their dominance has them on the verge of taking over the AL Central division lead. Now they will try to best their last great winning streak, which was 11 games back in 2006.

It is said all good things must come to an end, but the Twins are certainly enjoying their recent trend of good baseball. They extended their winning ways once again, by besting the Padres and Greg Maddux last night, 9-3. The fact that they’ve faced 4 Cy Young winners in the last 5 games hasn’t fazed them at all.

In a 3-0 hole early, the Twins surged back to tie it behind a pair of 2 out hits. Alexi Casilla hit an RBI single and Joe Mauer doubled in a pair to pull even. Then the offense really took off. The Padres series has been particularly good to Brendan Harris. In the 4th, he hit his 2nd homer in as many games, this one a 2 run blast off of Greg Maddux. Carlos Gomez hit a 2 RBI single in the 6th and also added two stolen bases in the game. In the 8th, Craig Monroe hit a 2 run, pinch hit home run.

Starter Glen Perkins struggled early, spotting the Padres a 3-0 lead after 2 innings. He never really seemed to get into a rhythm, but he never allowed more then those 3 runs. He hung in there, giving up those 3 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. He was helped by some strong defense, included a great stop by Casilla to save a hit.

Not only has the continued winning bolstered the team’s confidence, but the more recent winning has come against several former Cy Young winners. If the Twins can beat them, then they feel like they could beat anyone. Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux and even all time saves leader Trevor Hoffman fell before the Twins’ bats.

What looked like a game where the Twins were struggling to score runs turned into a dramatic finish, as a huge 9th inning won it for them 3-1. The heroics came in a most unlikely form for the Twins.

The team had been struggling all game long against Padres ace Jake Peavy. Their only run off him came in the first, when Michael Cuddyer singled home Alexi Casilla. Peavy would shut down the Twins for the rest of his start. With the game tied 1-1, heading into the ninth, the Padres sent out the all time leader in saves in Trevor Hoffman. All the Twins did was get back-to-back home runs with two outs from Brendan Harris and Brian Buscher.

Opposing Peavy was Kevin Slowey and the starter matched Peavy’s start. He didn’t allow a run over 6 innings, while giving up only 4 hits, no walks and striking out 7. The lead Slowey gave the Twins would be no more after Jesse Crain surrendered a run in the 7th. Joe Nathan would shut down the Padres in the 9th for his 20th save of the season.

It’s not everyday you can best the all times saves leader in such a dramatic way. Even more surprising is that the production came via the home run, something the Twins have been struggling to get this season. Their winning streak is now at 7, and with the way things are going, who knows when it will end.

The Twins won the first two games of the series with big innings, so why not go for the hat trick? Yet again, a multi-run inning propelled the Twin to a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks for the sweep.

The run scoring started with an interesting play. With Jason Kubel on first, Delmon Young hit a fly ball that left fielder Conor Jackson lost in the white Metrodome ceiling. The ball fell right in front of Jackson, giving Young a double. Brain Buscher then singled them both home. The Twins would score three more runs, including a 2 run single by Alexi Casilla.

Starter Livan Hernandez seems to have gotten out of the earlier funk he was in, and turned in a solid outing. He went 7 seven innings, giving up 9 hits and 3 runs, though only 1 was earned. The start also come against his former team, perhaps giving in him a little extra motivation.

It’s a great time to be a Twins fans. The team is rolling, getting the right ingredients for each win, solid pitching and lots of runs. The big innings have been the key in the Arizona series, but the offense has proven it can win behind runs scored in many innings as well.

What certainly seemed like an end to the Twins winning streak in the beginning turned into an offensive outburst for a 6-1 win. The offense got hot at just the right time and a big inning carried the Twins.

The team could absolutely not get anything going against Diamondbacks starter Micah Owings through the first 6 innings, but the 7th was when the floodgates opened. Joe Mauer started the inning by taking a gamble and laying down a bunt. He just barely beat the throw at 1st. The rally would take off and include run scoring hits from Justin Morneau, Delmon Young and Brian Buscher. The 6 Twins runs were all scored during this inning.

The big inning did steal a bit of the spotlight from starter Nick Blackburn, who had been dueling Owings. He finished with 7 innings, giving up a run on 7 hits. He was particularly confident in throwing his pitches, which can only mean good things.

The team has won 5 straight and 7 of their last 8. Every facet of their game just seems to be producing, whether it’s the hitters or the pitchers. Two big innings in two straight nights have given the Twins offense extra confidence. They now know they can drop several runs on an opponent at any time. Who knows, they might bust it open again tomorrow night.

The production just keeps coming and coming for the Twins, as their winning ways continued with a 7-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. They were able to get to the Big Unit often and Scott Baker turned in a yet another solid start for the Twins rotation.

The team scored a majority of their runs in the 3rd inning. The scoring started with Matt Macri hitting a 2 run single. The Twins did gamble a few times against Arizona left fielder Jeff Salazar, but both Macri and Alexi Casilla beat throws home. Craig Monroe capped off the 6 run inning with a 2 run blast on the 1st pitch he saw.

Although the Big Unit outlasted Baker in terms of innings pitched, it’s safe to say the latter had the better start. Baker was sharp, going 6 innings while striking out 7 and giving up only 1 run. The bullpen surrendered a run, but like last night, the Twins were already too far out in front.

The hitters keep hitting and the pitchers keep pitching, so it’s safe to assume that the Twins are on a roll. The win tonight against one of the better NL teams in Arizona is a huge confidence booster. The team will look to continue their winning and go for the series win tomorrow.

Sustaining the momentum of the first two games of the series, the Twins capped off the sweep with a 9-3 win. It was a game where everything seemed to be working, the hitters and pitchers both doing what was needed to seal the victory.

Michael Cuddyer did everything in the game it seems. He went 2 for 2 with a triple, 2 RBIs, 2 walks and 2 runs scored. But he also helped out starter Glen Perkins in the field by making a couple of leaping catches in the outfield. In addition to Cuddyer, Joe Mauer, Brian Buscher, Jason Kubel and Brendan Harris each had two hits. The Twins jumped all over Nationals starter Shawn Hill, tagging him for 7 runs on 10 hits in only 3 2/3 innings.

Perkins went 8 innings, which would make one think it was a great start. While it was a solid start and he kept the Washington offense mostly reined in by only giving up 3 runs, he surrendered 10 hits and didn’t seem happy with his overall performance.

This is huge for the Twins. Of course a sweep is huge for any team, but this comes during a time when the Twins offense is starting to get started. What they need to do now is to keep the momentum going as they continue Interleague play.

Unlike last night where the Twins were unable to get any sort of offensive advantage going, tonight they did the complete opposite, battering the Nationals pitchers in an 11-2 win. The team was able to capitalize on a number of mistakes by Washington to fuel the surge.

The hitters worked Nationals starter Jason Bergmann for longer at-bats, making him throw over 100 pitches in 6 innings. They tagged him for 3 runs, only one of which was earned due to 2 Washington errors. Leading 5-1 heading into the 8th, the Twins decided they weren’t done, piling on 6 more runs. The big stars were Carlos Gomez, who had 3 hits, Justin Morneau, with 2 hits and 3 RBIs and Brendan Harris, who had a double and a triple.

Starter Kevin Slowey was solid on the mound, going 6 strong, allowing 7 hits. The lone run he surrendered come on a solo shot by Felipe Lopez in the 5th. Boof Bonser did give up a run in the 9th, but by that time, the Twins were too far ahead.

Gaining the series win has to be energizing for the Twins. They were able to avoid the mistakes of last night, while taking advantage of their opponents mistakes, something that every good team does. They have all the momentum going for the sweep tomorrow.