Twins 4, Phillies 1: Carl Pavano's Complete Game Spells Defeat for Roy Halladay, Philly

by Jesse on Jun 20, 2010 4:24 PM EDT in Game Recaps

That, kids, is how you finish strong.

It's hard to beat good pitching. Today the good pitching came from Roy Halladay, for sure...but Carl Pavano out-pitched him where it matters: runs.

While Halladay looked sharp for the most part, the Twins were able to put a few good swings on once or twice, and in spite of eight strikeouts and no walks over eight innings Doc did allow 11 hits. The Twins touched him for single runs in the first, fifth, sixth and eighth innings; it wasn't much but it was enough.

Joe Mauer singled in Orlando Hudson in the first to kick off the scoring, while solo home runs by Denard Span and Justin Morneau sandwiched an RBI single for Jason Kubel.

For Philly, a Wilson Valdez homer was the only blemish on one of Pavano's strongest outings of the season to date. Phillies batters rolled over on pitch after pitch, and none of them seemed like they ever really had a chance. Recording just two strikeouts, Pavano matched Halladay's walk total of zero but became the definition of "scattering hits" by allowing just four all afternoon.

This was a huge series win for the Twins, not just because of how this series started (bombs away, welcome back to life Phillies hitters!) but because this was a quality team that Minnesota had to take on while on the road.

Congratulations on a big weekend, boys. You've earned a day off.

Studs
Carl Pavano: CG, 4 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 1 R, .454 WPA
Justin Morneau: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R, .052 WPA
Denard Span: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, R, .124 WPA
Roy Halladay: 8 IP, 11 H, 8 K, 0 BB, 4 R, -.056 WPA

Duds
Michael Cuddyer: The only Twin to not reach base today. Sorry, Cuddles. We still love you.

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The 'Stache Not Only Abides..... It Kicks Ass

the 'stache abides

by carlpavanosmoustache on Jun 20, 2010 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Luigi

You can go the Luigi route but I think he’s more of a Wario type. the ’stache has something devilish about it.

by WV3 on Jun 20, 2010 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

11 games over .500... again

Let’s see if we can finally push to 12

by DavidRF on Jun 20, 2010 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

I'm ready.

Let’s see if the Brewers are game.

by Jesse on Jun 20, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Shake 'n' Bake on Tuesday

Taking on Dave Bush

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. ~ Terence Mann

by John Veldhuis on Jun 20, 2010 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

No Bush for you

by Salty on Jun 20, 2010 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Not a single ball hit to Cuddyer at 3rd

Winner winner?

by TheIntern on Jun 20, 2010 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

Chicken dinner?

by Jesse on Jun 20, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

1 chance in two games...

by DavidRF on Jun 20, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Pavano is a stud.

Awesome win to take the series!

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"A lot of us didn't even know the rule." -LNP

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jun 20, 2010 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

The Boy Wonder goes to AAA

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5308034

by DavidRF on Jun 20, 2010 6:30 PM EDT reply actions

Fisted to Toledo

He’s 21 and over the hill.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"A lot of us didn't even know the rule." -LNP

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Jun 20, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet justice...

I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...

by urluckyday on Jun 20, 2010 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I bet they replace him with the Boof.

by Luke in MN on Jun 21, 2010 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Cuddyer

Not only did he not reach base, he looked foolish. I was sitting behind home plate and Pavano looked better swinging the bat than Cuddles. Oh well, no shame in looking bad against a pitcher like Halladay.

I’ll be in NYC next week to see the Twins take on the Mets. My first trip to Citi Field. Hopefully, my good luck will continue.

by rencito on Jun 20, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

The Stache FTW

That’s about all.

"Very cruel, as in June Nick Blackburn error is cruel twins fans" -wwgtd, via google translator

by fischean on Jun 20, 2010 6:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

+27

by Jesse on Jun 20, 2010 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It is time for Blackie and K.Slow to succumb and grow the ’stache to improve their pitching. I mean, why else are they pitching so bad? It must be the ’stache. Only thing I can think of ;-)

This might be a challenge for K.Slow, but it must be done. I’d suggest the whole staff do this, but Frankie isn’t sucking and Baker’s would have to be fake—that’s just bad karma.

Let's Go Twins!
Minnesota Wild Off-season: In Fletch We Trust.

by redheadzeb on Jun 20, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Franky would be Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan put together if he grew a mustache

by ckb on Jun 21, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Huge Performance from Pavano

After back to back days of our starters not making it out of the 2nd inning, including one that went to 11 innings, our bullpen was certainly exhausted. For Pavano to come out and pitch that well, as well as cover all 9 innings was incredibly huge. Today and Monday off for the bullpen should have them all ready to go again by Tuesday.

by Cobra312004 on Jun 20, 2010 7:16 PM EDT reply actions

He pitched well, but I thought the Phillies hitters had poor approaches at the plate

Pavano threw a lot of first pitch cookies out over the middle of the plate waist high that were taken for strikes. It seemed like the Phillies’ hitters were trying to make Pavano throw a lot of pitches to get his pitch count up instead of swinging at fat pitches early in the count. As a result, Pavano was able to pitch ahead in the count and be very effective. Credit Pavano and the Twins for figuring out that the Phillies hitters take a lot of first pitches, but I was surprised the Phillies’ hitters never made this adjustment.

by Sheldon on Jun 20, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm bummed I missed this one

but my dad wanted to go on a 20 mile bike ride so I obliged because it is Father’s Day. I guess I will just watch the highlights even though it’s nothing compared to the real game.

by taralynn09 on Jun 20, 2010 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

Love to see a game like this from Pavstache

Like Slowey and Blackburn, he has the capability to succumb to a very bad start every now and then. But today he not only pitched a CG, but had a patient offense that was able to chip away at one of the best pitchers in the game. A huge series win on the east coast for the boys, and VERY well-earned. I hope we see determined baseball like this for awhile.

by MarshalltheIrish on Jun 20, 2010 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

What a turnaround!

At about 5:30 local time, I was thinking that the Twins would be in second place leaving Philadelphia after absorbing their first three game sweep. Then the big rally yesterday followed by Pavano’s sensational outing outpitching the best active pitcher of this millenium.

And the Tigers are done with their ridiculously easy homestand.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jun 20, 2010 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Outpitching the best active pitcher of this millenium

He hasn’t done that yet; that’s what he’ll do his NEXT start.

by JonathanR on Jun 20, 2010 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I did a quick stat check and was thinking about saying -1 until I looked at the stats again. Damn, I miss Santana. Although looking at his last three seasons he’s slowly declining and I think the Twins were smart to not pay him a ton, but would’ve been nice to get a bit more for the trade still. Damn Phil Hughes would look good in our rotation right now.

Peyton's good but have you ever heard of Jeff George?

by halfchest on Jun 21, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Phil Hughes would be nice,

but then we’d need a shortstop and a closer.

by Luke in MN on Jun 21, 2010 8:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Not gonna say these games are crucial,

but it would be really nice to have a larger cushion that we could build on once they come to town at the end of the month.

by John Veldhuis on Jun 20, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Although it’s a stretch to call before the All-Star break, I really do hope the miracle comeback on Saturday is a season-maker and puts our boys in a groove. I know I’d feel like a million winning a game like that.

by MarshalltheIrish on Jun 21, 2010 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Seems like after a lackluster few weeks

The boys kind of remembered how good they can be. Today reminded me of April/early May. I thought we’d get swept after Blackie and Sloweys horrid play, and we TOOK THE SERIES.

I am elated.

I always loved that one.

by FoulJack on Jun 21, 2010 2:14 AM EDT via mobile reply actions