The game didn’t exactly start out the way the Twins wanted, with them falling behind big early. However, they were able to battle back and send it into extra innings feeling good. That’s when their luck ran out and they ended up with a 12-9 loss to Cleveland.
The Twins got on board early with a 1st inning run, but then 2 innings later, were down 8-1. However, the team surged back, with 4 runs in the 5th, 2 in the 6th and 2 more in the 8th. There was plenty of offense to go around as every starter had a hit. Carlos Gomez led the production with 3 RBIs, but made a costly error in the field. Justin Morneau had a 2 run double and Matt Tolbert led the hits with 3 and scored twice. Michael Cuddyer is back with the team and chipped in almost immediately with an RBI. However, the Twins could not muster any extra innings offense to win it.
Francisco Liriano had done quite well of late, but it appeared he didn’t have any of that tonight. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings and gave up 8 runs, though only 4 were earned. He continued the recent trend of Twins starters being victimized by the long ball, giving up 2 tonight. The bullpen came in and was able to keep the Twins in it, except for the game-deciding moment. It was closer Joe Nathan giving up a 3 run homer to Victor Martinez to end the game.
Tomorrow’s series finale is pretty much a must win for the Twins. They cannot head into a difficult series with Tampa Bay after having been swept. It would wreck havoc with their confidence. The team has faced this kind of adversity during the season, though not with the added pressure of a divisional race.
