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Around SBN: MLB Trade Deadline: Where each team stands right now

Twins Sweep White Sox, Take Over Second Place

Twins 3, White Sox 2

When Scott Podsednik played Alexi Casilla like he had power with two out in the bottom of the sixth, it probably didn't seem much like a game-deciding decision to anybody.  You could probably even justify it, saying that with Casilla's speed you didn't want anything getting over Podsednik's head.  Alexi did have a big double earlier, after all.  One dying quail later Joe Crede was hobbling home for a one-run lead, and that would be the ballgame.

Casilla was absolutely clutch.  He picked up both of his hits in big situations where the team needed a hit, and if that double hadn't been of the ground-rule variety he could have had at least a triple instead of that two-bagger and at least one more run would have scored.  With his speed and Podsednik's arm, he might have made it all the way around.

While the Twins picked up five walks on the night, a new band called Denard Span and the Bottom of the Orders provided the offense.  The 7-8-9-1 hitters combined to go 5-for-12 with a double, all three runs batted in, two walks and a pair of stolen bases; the middle of the order collected one hit and a trio of walks.

The story of the night, though?  Brian Duensing.  He only lasted five innings, but it was enough.  After being spotted a two-run lead in the second, Brian's only damage in his first major league start were the two solo home runs.  Jayson Nix took a high, outside fastball and managed to pull it on a rocket into the left field seats, just over the outstretched glove of Span.  Carlos Quentin and his geriatric legs carried him around the bases in the fifth when his shot to dead center field tied the game.  Duesning threw just 64 pitches, 48 for strikes, mixing in everything he had.  For whatever reason Chicago simply had no answer outside of those two well-connected hits, and would only manage one other hit and a harmless walk off the latest Twins rookie starter.

Jesse Crain threw a pair of scoreless innings while Matt Guerrier and Joe Nathan threw one each, giving Nathan his 29th save of the year.

Just like that the Twins have rattled off four wins and a huge sweep of the Chi-Sox to vault back into second place.  It marks just the second time this year they've managed to win four consecutive (first time since May 21 - May 24), tying them for the longest winning streak of the season.  Thursday is an off-day, but I'm hoping this momentum carries into the weekend.

While the team is riding this crest, I can't help but think this would be the ideal time to finalize a deal or two.  Keep your fingers crossed.

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Stars of the Game
#3:  Brian Duensing  (5 IP, 3 H, 2 K, 1 BB, 2 R, .055 WPA)
#2:  Jesse Crain  (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, .175 WPA)
#1:  Alexi Casilla  (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, SB, .304 WPA)

0 recs  |  Comment 25 comments |

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The Piranas return!!!

"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 Jul 30, 2009 3:51 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Game

I enjoyed it. It was a good, close game. Color me crazy glue, but I like the nail biters.

by WITwinsfan on Jul 30, 2009 7:35 AM EDT reply actions  

a good game

and a good sweep of the series! Hopefully it won’t induce the FO to do nothing in regards to a Pitcher or MI. The Angel’s series could b back to reality.

by justintime on Jul 30, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions  

How about that!

We just swept a series in which Casilla and Punto combined to drive in twice as many runs as the combo of Mauer and Morneau (4-2). The impossible just happened! Seriously, I hope the Twins management doesn’t decide now that Casilla and Punto are the answers after all. Let’s hope we can get a deal done to “make our team better” (Bill Smith’s favorite line).

by Sheldon on Jul 30, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions  

"It was a good, close game."

Agreed, which is why I was irritated that the FSN announcers had it marked down as a “W” in the 8th inning.

by DJL44 on Jul 30, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions  

I think that

Casilla has the athletic ability to be a good player for the Twins. (Defense, speed, maybe some gap power). He just needs to get his head into the game. When he does, he’s actually been pretty clutch in the past (if I remember correctly). He’s still fairly young, and if he can get to 80% of his offense from 2008 and start making the routine defensive plays, I think he’ll be solid.

Punto is the one I’m worried about. Over 30 and declining arm and range = red flag.

by Kanonen80 on Jul 30, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions  

Plus

I like the chemistry between Casilla, Gomez and Span. Do all three of them do their little “jump celebration” after every win?

by Kanonen80 on Jul 30, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

i like it to

think it helps establish some MO…..Twins seem stale sometimes!

by justintime on Jul 30, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

Amazing for Casilla....

…his single game DUP was 37! However, that doesn’t off-set the season’s DUP of -234568363526378387.21

by mbennett on Jul 30, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions  

RAEKWON

isn’t that an alien race in Star Trek?

I swear sometimes I have no idea what you guys are talking about. I come for the witty banter.

by caluofmn on Jul 30, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's a made-up stat.

mbennett is a big fan of made up stats.

by Jesse on Jul 30, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Hmmm...

I had to call in his RZA and GZA in order to calculate the RAEKWON. Also, as a side note, I risked my life by entering the 36th Chamber to get this information.

His RAEKWON is 5.3

by mbennett on Jul 30, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

KILL THE BOOK!

Down with that smarty pants Tom Riddle.

by Jesse on Jul 30, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

Ha Ha Ha

see wait long enough and I can always find the witty banter in this place.

by caluofmn on Jul 30, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions  

Harry Potter banter is the best kind

Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic. -Bull Durham

by fischean on Jul 30, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Morneau has the death stick!

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Gomez has the invisibility cloak!

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Bill Smith has the Resurection Stone

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jul 30, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

LNP is Dobby!

I mean, wait…am I doing this right?

Strikeouts are boring - besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls. More democratic. -Bull Durham

by fischean on Jul 31, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions  

One game

… should not make us forget the months of horrible play from Casilla.

Check out my blog:
http://joeiscool.tumblr.com/
Sports, Humor, Authorship, and more!

by joeiscool12 on Jul 30, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions  

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