Seattle 6, Twins 1: Opportunistic Mariners spoil Twins' opener
by Jon Marthaler on Apr 6, 2009 10:47 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
25 comments
In 2008, the Twins hardly could fail when the opportunity arose. Minnesota hit .305 with runners in scoring position, leading the majors by a wide margin, and that talent for clutch hitting took the team on a seemingly-magical ride to a post-season playoff.
Monday night, it was the Mariners that took advantage of opportunities, en route to a 6-1 win in Minnesota.
Twins starter Francisco Liriano allowed just four baserunners in seven innings - but every player that reached base against him scored. Adrian Beltre came around to score after a second-inning double, and Ken Griffey Jr. and Franklin Gutierrez hit home runs, the latter just moments after an Endy Chavez single.
In the ninth, Jesse Crain and Craig Breslow issued walks, both of which ended up crossing the plate.
Those runs were more than enough for Seattle's Felix Hernandez, who allowed five hits and three walks in eight innings, but had to pitch out of jams in the first, third, fourth, and fifth innings, stranding six Twins in scoring position.
Minnesota appeared to be rallying in the fifth inning, as they loaded the bases with nobody out. But Alexi Casilla popped out, and after Michael Cuddyer drove in one run with a single, Justin Morneau bounced into a double play to kill the threat.
And so, the Mariners won the Twins' home opener in Minnesota's last season in the Metrodome - just as they did in 1982, winning the Twins' home opener in Minnesota's first season in the Dome.
UPDATE 11:10pm: Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune reports that Mike Redmond injured a groin muscle in the game, and is at best day-to-day.
After the jump: the Twins' three stars of the game.
3. Denard Span
Span got the somewhat surprising start in left field, a position he has not played with any regularity - and he looked pretty darn good out there, getting to several fly balls that would have sent Delmon Young skating back to the wall to pick them up. Hitting leadoff, Span also walked twice, contributing to a pair of Twins rallies.
2. Luis Ayala
In his first appearance as a Twin,the right-hander allowed a single - but immediately erased it on a double play. One batter later, he had a faced-three, retired-three inning. The Twins could use about 75 more of those this year.
1. Bert Blyleven
You may have heard Bert say it four or five hundred times - it was Bert's birthday on Monday. Happy 58th Birthday, Bert!
(Honestly, that was about as good as it got on Opening Day.)
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Don't you love the new photos and widgets?
Gotta love the SBN expansion!
by nathaneide on Apr 6, 2009 10:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
The photos are AWESOME.
If you know who is responsible, tell me and I will hug them.
by Jon Marthaler on Apr 6, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do indeed
Trei, Chris Haines and Jim Bankoff set up a fantastic deal with AP
by nathaneide on Apr 6, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Liriano deserved better
That Casilla play just before the homer was pathetic. And Gomez should have caught that homer. I guess we’re spoiled on that play.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Apr 6, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
355 days until Bert's next birthday
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Apr 6, 2009 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
it is 364…but who is counting? Well, Bert, I guess.
by rencito on Apr 7, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Postgame update
Joe C @ the strib is reporting Redmond Injured his Hamstring running on his Double in the 5th inning.
by Tony_O on Apr 7, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Didn't take long for "every day Red"
to go down.
It’s a young man’s world. I can barely make it down the stairs in the morning, let alone after a couple glasses of wine.
by Old Twins Cap on Apr 7, 2009 1:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like Redmond will try to play through it, the next couple days will be important.
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Apr 7, 2009 1:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I doubt he'll be able to play tonight
He couldn’t finish the game last night. And he’s bound to be more sore today than he was last night. If he can’t play tomorrow, they’ll have to DL him and bring up Butera.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Apr 7, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
somewhere in California
Torii Hunter is proud that one of his former teamates is willing to play through pain… and somewhere in Florida Mauer thinks Hunter should mind his own damn buisness, he’s an Angel now!
by caluofmn on Apr 7, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't watch the game
and MLB.com’s audio went out somewhere in the 6th – but I have to say that I was impressed by what little I heard regarding Span.
It sounds like he played a heck of a game defensively and a very smart game offensively. If you are struggling the way he has been lately it makes a lot of sense to look for walks and sacrifices.
If you are going to have an 0fer night, Span found a way to make his 0fer count.
by montanatwinsfan on Apr 7, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Didn't take long for those RISP numbers to start balancing out either
Oh well. It’s better to have loaded the bases with no outs and not score than to have never loaded the bases at all. More frustrating, but bodes better for the future.
by by jiminy on Apr 7, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cuddyer in the 3 hole
I don’t get this decision. Cuddy entered the game 0-12 against Hernandez. Why not put Kubel in the 3 hole? Gardy’s so worried about protecting Morneau that he leaves a gaping hole after the table setters.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Apr 7, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And he looked awful
Hernandez has him baffled. He should just sit next time Hernandez is scheduled to pitch against us. It isn’t just a matter of hits not falling in for him. I think he struck out three times.
by rencito on Apr 7, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
He managed to square up on one and hit a weak liner to center off the trademark. Otherwise, he had no clue. I think the lone hit was the only time he even made contact.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Apr 7, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His approach was awful...
Two on, nobody out in the 1st. He should be taking a few pitches to let the rabbits in front of him run. What does he do? He swings at two god-awful pitches to put himself in a hole, and ends up striking out.
Next AB, there’s a man on third and two out. He should be aggressive trying to drive the guy in. He stares at two right down the middle to put himself in a hole, and ends up striking out
This is a pretty common thing for Cuddyer, not a Felix Hernandez induced condition. He’s a guess hitter that doesn’t even take advantage of many mistakes and had one above-average year. I’m OK with poor results if you’re approach is right…that’s just bad luck. Unfortunately, Cuddyer has proven over time that he is clueless. There’s enough mediocre pitching out there that a guy like Cuddyer can hit 15-20 HR and drive in 80 runs, but he’ll never hit decent or better pitchers.
Too bad the approaches of Delmon and Go-Go aren’t much better. But at least they are young and have the capacity to improve.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 7, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In general, right handers...
…do badly against King Felix. So I agree, especially with the Mariners’ lack of a bullpen lefthander, it would be better to have batted Kubel higher in the order.
by DK on Apr 7, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thoughts on last night...
- Span looked really good out there in left. There were at least two balls I don’t think Delmon would have gotten.
- It’s possible that Gomez would have gotten to the Gutierrez HR is Delmon was in LF. With Span in left, Gomez is going to shade a bit toward right. Ended up just a bit short. 2-3 steps more toward center and he gets that ball easily (for Carlos).
- Liriano gave up a couple gopher balls, but I like the zero walks and generally pitching to contact. He needs to make that changeup a weapon. Not a great outing, but promising.
- The offense stunk. Cuddyer finally came through, but he left a lot of runners on base. We let Felix get into a groove…
- I don’t particularly have a problem with Cuddyer in the 3 hole, there’s not really a good option. Kubel was no better last night, and if Kubel’s at #3 then Cuddyer-Crede-Gomez would be back to back. I’d rather split them up a bit.
by Adam Peterson on Apr 7, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If it weren't for opening night
I’m betting we would have seen Delmon in LF and Span in RF. Cuddyer is awful against Hernandez. I’ll give Hernandez some credit though…he looked great in the WBC and could be CY candidate if he stays healthy.
by rencito on Apr 7, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
I disagree with Young in LF and Span in RF in general, was hoping Gardy got over that this year. Oh well.
Felix has looked great so far, we’ll see if he puts it together over a full and healthy season.
by Adam Peterson on Apr 8, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very ironic...
that Delmon’s crumminess on defense might have helped us on that HR. I agree that Go-Go would have played an extra step or two towards left with him over there.
"I'm gonna make you cry...I'm gonna make you cry and dip my cookie in your tears!!!"
by mutleyil on Apr 7, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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