Twins Snap Skid, Tigers Get Pavstache'd
by Jesse on Jul 11, 2010 5:32 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintThat was much more fun to watch.
There were some questionable moments in this one. Like when, on a hit-and-run, Drew Butera whiffed for the strikeout and then Nick Punto tripped in between first and second. That was awesome. But for the most part, today was all abotu Carl Pavano continuing to own the Detroit Tigers.
Pavano held a no-hitter until a single with one out in the fifth inning. And only in the sixth did the Tigers finally force Pavano to face more than three batters (with four). Even in the seventh, when they finally managed to touch Pavstache for a pair after the first three hitters reached, the mustachioed warrior worked himself out of trouble to limit the damage and keep the Twins in front.
Everything you could ask for out of your starter, we got today. Pavano was efficient, he worked ahead, he threw strikes and had fantastic command. He was particularly effective against left-handed hitters, but let's be honest: he was pretty much great in general.
A quick start in the first with back-to-back walks and a couple of big singles got the Twins on the board with two in the top of the first. A ground-rule double by Michael Cuddyer in the fifth and a solid drive by Danny Valencia in the eighth helped put the game on ice, running the score to 6-2 entering the bottom of the eighth.
Here is where the Tigers finally caught up to Pavano. A pair of fly outs sandwiched a double, and they all preceeded a run-scoring single, after which Gardy lifted the one good, consistent starter the Twins have had this year. Pavano finished with a very solid 7.2 innings, six strikeouts, six hits and a walk on 104 pitches. Matt Guerrier threw one pitch to get Minnesota out of the inning, and he was done.
Big Jon Rauch came out and put the hammer down for the 20th save, and that was it. The Twins snap a four-game losing streak, and get to head into a much-needed three-day break. Notes and awards after the jump.
- Delmon Young batted third today and played like he belonged there. He picked up a pair of hits, including his 25th double of the year. Yeah, let's not trade Delmon, okay?
- Michael Cuddyer has come on again recently, and was a big player in today's game with two hits (including his 20th double), a pair of walks and two more RBI.
- Did I mention that Nick Punto fell down on a failed hit-and-run?
- Jason Kubel managed a couple of hits today, too.
- Opponent's well-hit average against Pavano today: .000.
- Did that Brad Thomas dude look familiar to anybody? He should have. Between 2001 and 2004 he made 11 appearances for the Twins, five as a starter in '01 as a 23-year old. In the 23.2 Major League innings of his Minnesota career, his ERA was 9.89. He struck out just eight while walking 18, and you can pair that with 33 hits.
MVP: Carl Pavano
MVP in a losing effort: Johnny Damon
Best performance from a hitter: Delmon Young
Most Embarassed: Nick Punto
Best Facial Hair: Carl Pavano
I found the strike zone! I promise!: Brad Thomas
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That was a much needed win.
Not all regular season games are created equal. The Twins needed something, ANYTHING positive to build on heading into the ASB, and they finally got it. Does it undo three weeks of generally wretched play? Of course not, but the difference between being 3.5 back and 5 back at the break is massive. Relax, get healthy, and see if the Twins can come back next weekend, enjoy some home cooking, and take 3 of 4 from a team that hopefully will be cooled off by 3 days of not playing.
I still think the Twins need to, and will, trade for a legitimate starting pitcher, maybe 2. I think Blackburn will be replaced in the rotation. An August and September rotation of Roy Oswalt?, Pavstache, Liriano (who really needs some downtime), Baker and Slowey or Duensing sounds like an improvement. The Twins had 8 quality starts in their last 23 games, 4 by Pavstache. That’s an astonishingly low % of quality starts. A team always playing from behind tends to press. That has to change.
As I try to get out of the "we didn't get Cliff Lee" stupor...
I considered the possibility of getting some of those other name starters. Oswalt or Haren in place of Blackburn would be an undeniable boost, I am officially done with Blackie. Simply put, however, the rest of the staff not named Pavano has to find its stride once and for all. Especially without Lee (or any name pitcher acquired via trade if we don’t act), I hate to envision pitching like what we’ve seen for the past month during a divisional race, or god forbid in the playoffs against an AL East team. I have faith they will recover, though.
by MarshalltheIrish on Jul 11, 2010 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
It seems to recur
The Twins always seem to limp into the All-Star break. This year is worse than most, but the win today is a breath of fresh air. I think Baker, Slowey and Liriano will be OK, but I’ve seen more than enough of Blackburn.
On offense, I think a Cuddy hot streak is coming. He has hit a lot of balls hard with pretty poor results—it’s time for things to even out and that two-out two run double was huge today. BTW, Michael is striking out significantly less this year and yet both his average and power numbers are down. That can’t continue can it?
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jul 11, 2010 6:22 PM EDT reply actions
Good to get a win rigth before the All-Star Break
maybe they can build on it
and figure on how to not hit into DPs
Thank goodness for Pavano.
I really am hoping that after the ASB, Duensing gets a spot start for one of the struggling starters. If nothing else, let them know their spot isn’t guaranteed.
Anyway, I look forward to seeing what happens with Chicago this week.
The Pavstache will own you.
Great game.
Glad to see a good game from the guys. Pavstache had a good outing and the offense was pretty much in sync for the most part. Hopefully this game can be a turning point in the season. The all star break can give the guys a chance to reflect on the first half and hopefully they can start playing better and winning games.
Oh and what's up with Cuddy's attempt at a handle bar mustache?
I didn’t watch much of the game yesterday so I didn’t see it. When he came up to bat today I busted out laughing when I saw his “mustache”. Haha oh Cuddles!
I didn't catch the first few innings, but it definitely was a good game.
Pavano and his moustache have done it again!
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Man that Punto trip up
was an uncomfortable flash back to Game 3 against NYY last year in the ALDS.
Do you want to know the terrifying truth, or do you want to see me sock a few dingers?
Punto needs more time on the bench
Why him and not Hardy? It’s a mystery.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Valencia
He has been okay at third. He’s hitting for an OK avg. and has fielded his position very well. I expect that he’ll be sent down when Casilla is through rehabbing. With Punto in the last year of his contract, I can see Valencia being the Twins starting 3B in 2011.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Jul 11, 2010 10:10 PM EDT reply actions
I could see that
This year, he’ll probably be the guy they call to fill out the 25th roster spot for the playoffs, when they typically go down to 11 pitchers.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Why would you send down the 3B of the future.
I guess no one saw that one hop double off the wall by Punto Opps Valencia
So he can play
When the whole team is healthy, Valencia doesn’t have much of a role – Cuddyer starts over him against righties (to get Thome and Kubel in the lineup) and Punto starts over him against lefties. He isn’t fast enough to pinch run for most of the team, doesn’t hit well enough to pinch hit for anyone except Butera and maybe Punto, and only plays one position in the field. Casilla doesn’t hit as well, but he can pinch run for anyone on the team and play four or five positions (not terrifically, but competently, at least), plus he’s out of options.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
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