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.
