Twins Outslug White Sox
by cmathewson on Sep 23, 2009 12:51 AM EDT
13 comments
Orlando Cabrera, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel led a powerful attack to lift the Twins past the White Sox 8-6 in a see-saw game on Tuesday night at US Cellular Field in Chicago.
The Twins scored three runs off John Danks in the first inning. After a rare Carlos Gomez walk, Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer to left. Hits by Kubel and Cuddyer set up a Delmon Young sac fly to give the Twins a 3-0 lead.
Jeff Manship started for the Twins and lasted only 2 2/3 innings before giving up the lead. After giving up a single run in the first, he really started to struggle in the third. Manship gave up homers to Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham with a Scott Podsednik single sandwiched in between for a 4-3 Sox lead. Batting practice continued with AJ Pierzinski and Paul Konerko hitting hard singles to prompt Ron Gardenhire to make the pitching change to Francisco Liriano. Liriano promptly induced a double play to get the boys back into the dugout and hitting.
Joe Mauer tied the game on a two-out double in the fourth. Michael Cuddyer and Matt Tolbert (!) homered off Danks in the sixth, and the Twins led the rest of the way. Jason Kubel added an insurance run on a homer in the eighth.
The short start forced the Twins to use most of its bullpen. Jesse Crain (7-4) got the win with an inning and a third of spotless pitching. Jose Mijares (25) and Matt Guerrier (31) each got holds despite making it interesting in their innings. And Joe Nathan worked a rare 1-2-3 ninth for his 43rd save in 48 chances.
The win helped the Twins keep pace with the Tigers, who beat the hapless Indians 3-1. The Twins remain 2.5 games back while the White Sox are now 8 back with 11 games to play.
Studs:
4. Jesse Crain: On a night like this, it's nice to see a guy stifle the other guys' bats. He came in in the fifth with runners on second and third and two outs and got out of the inning. He then pitched a clean sixth to bridge the gap to the set-up crew.
3. Michael Cuddyer: Another three-hit night with a double and a homer.
2. Jason Kubel: Two more hits, both for extra bases.
1. Orlando Cabrera: Not only did get the Twins going with his home, his two-out walk helped the Twins tie the game again. And he made several very nice plays in the field. It's safe to say whatever was ailing his arm is gone.
Duds:
Jeff Manship: This has to be his last shot this season to start. The question is, who starts next time around the rotation? Liriano?
John Danks: Giving up seven earned runs to this line-up without two if its best hitters is not good.
0 recs |
13 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
THis is getting exciting!
"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 Sep 23, 2009 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They better start Liriano on Sunday
Why wouldn’t they? Manship isn’t ready. For better or worse, Liriano has been there all year, and contributed something to the team. What happened to Gardy’s well-known distrust of rookies?
by Old Twins Cap on Sep 23, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Liriano?
Yeesh. Swarzak? Blyleven? My aunt Susan?
by wcooley on Sep 23, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take Liriano
He’s been good out of the bullpen. He might implode again as a starter or he might pitch a good game.
I know Swarzak would get lit up.
by ckb on Sep 23, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dunno who starts in Manship's place
But they’ll go up against Greinke twice
by DJL44 on Sep 23, 2009 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Greinke, twice? groan...
He’ll be gunning for the Cy Young award, too, so the whole team will be going all out to get him the win.
by by jiminy on Sep 23, 2009 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice win for the Twins!
Hopefully we can take Buehrle again tonight.
We were 2 GB from the lolcats with about 2 weeks left in 2006. Let’s do it again!
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is!" -John "Bluto" Blutarsky
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Sep 23, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Duensing, if he holds up to how he has been pitching, can match up with Buerhle.
There are many opportunities for us to catch up to the Tigers…if only Cleveland would stop playing like Cleveland for a couple games.
by fischean on Sep 23, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Day off tomorrow
That might mean that they let him catch again, especially in this heated a pennant race.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
by BeefMaster on Sep 23, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Liriano last good start
Was against the Spoils at the Dome. He gave up one run (a Bloomquist homer) in seven innings. I suggest the Francisco only go 3-4 innings and turn the game over to the bullpen, whether the team is ahead or behind. There are more arms available now (Mahay and Rauch), so going deep in the game isn’t so important. Maybe Manship can give the team a couple of effective innings from the bullpen.
Mauer will catch tonight. He may catch every game down the stretch. I’m surprised that Kubel has played every day in right—I thought he would DH some down the stretch.
I hope Brendan Harris had his last at-bat as a Twin. He isn’t a fit for this team unless he can handle SS and I don’t think Gardenhire believes he can. Unfortunately, he is not hitting either.
Cabrera hasn’t been great since he came to the team. He has helped the team because SS was such a problem earlier. I wouldn’t be upset if the Twins signed him for next year, but wouldn’t be devastated if they didn’t sign him.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 23, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
