Twins & Matt Fox Somehow Defeat Rangers, 4-3.
by RandBall's Stu on Sep 4, 2010 12:08 AM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintOn Thursday night, the Twins lost a game they should have won. On Friday, they won a game they should have lost, thanks to the likes of Matt Fox, Jason Repko and Danny Valencia. Just like we said would happen in April.
A 4-3 victory over the playoff-bound Rangers would be good under any circumstances, but tonight's made it one to savor. Let's be very clear on this: Matt Fox's start on Friday wasn't the best start by a Twins pitcher this year, but it was probably the most necessary. After a game where the Twins set their bullpen on fire, used 3 of their 5 starters and lost one of them to injury for 1-2 starts minimum, the anonymous Fox gave the Twins everything you could have asked for against a formidable Texas lineup. Fox surrendered a mere two runs in 5 and 2/3 innings with the help of some nice defense from Denard Span, Repko and an infield that remembered how to turn double plays, keeping Minnesota in the game while the Twins tried to figure out Rangers starter Jason Holland.
That never happened, as Holland handcuffed the Twins through the first six innings, allowing just two runs. However, in the bottom of the 7th, Valencia hit a seeing-eye single to left (after which he left the game with tightness in his right hamstring OH GOOD ANOTHER HURT IMPORTANT GUY), which was followed by a Repko walk. Ron Washington went to his bullpen, and that gave the Twins the opening they needed. Singles by J.J. Hardy and Denard Span plated pinch-runner Matt Tolbert and Repko, putting the Twins ahead for good.
Matt Capps did the rest. After Jon Rauch and Randy Flores labored to get one out in the 8th, Capps entered the game with runners on the corners and got two rather clutch-y outs. With the offense not giving him any breathing room in the bottom of the 8th, Capps got the first out of the 9th, then gave up a Chip Carey Special to Vladimir Guerrero. With Alex Cora pinch-running for Guerrero, Pedro Borbon singled to right. Cora attempted to take 3rd on the hit, and Repko GUNNED. HIM. DOWN. One fly ball out later, and Capps had the rare 5-out save. His arm is being shipped to Cooperstown as I type this.
To recap: the Twins got 21 outs from two pitchers who were nowhere near Minneapolis 24 hours ago. Their trade deadline closer got the last five. And they might have gotten their biggest win of the season.
Studs: Fox, Alex Burnett (hey, four outs and one run in a pinch, could've been worse), Span and Repko on defense, Capps, Valencia, Jim Perry and Jim Kaat in the booth for FSN.
Duds: No duds tonight, I'm in a good mood.
Enjoy your long weekend, everybody.
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Nice summary
Also note—The Twins had two runners take an extra base when somebody made a play on the lead runner. Three productive outs (Hudson, Mauer, and Cuddyer) advanced and plated two of the four runs. Valencia, Span and Repko made fine plays and Target Field kept all the balls in the park.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 4, 2010 12:23 AM EDT reply actions
Too bad Span was so good
It would have been lots of fun to have all the stars of the game be people the fans don’t even know. I can just see that family in town to see Target Field for the first time saying “I’m glad we won but the only guy I recognized was Joe Mauer”.
Except if they where fans, they would recognize them.
Maybe not the casual fan, but the kind that lingers round on here ;)
by twinscrazy_german on Sep 4, 2010 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I may recognize names
But if I bumped into Matt Fox or Trevor Plouffe in the grocery store I wouldn’t be able to tell who they were.
Good game, and a big win
We needed this one.
Also, you meant Julio Borbon, not Pedro Borbon.
so you can run and tell that, run and tell that, run and tell that
homeboy, home, home, homeboy
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Sep 4, 2010 12:25 AM EDT reply actions
Airplane was responsible for the above typo. There’s no way I’m changing it now, because that would be an insult to Airplane.
by RandBall's Stu on Sep 4, 2010 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Leave it
Don’t insult Airplane!
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Sep 4, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
As long as it wasn't Airwolf
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
lefty, righty, HELICOPTER, lefty, righty.
"To tell the truth, I'm not excited to go to Cleveland, but we have to. If I ever saw myself saying I'm excited going to Cleveland, I'd punch myself in the face, because I'm lying." -Ichiro
Spot on Stu.
While I generally go into every Twins game hoping for a win, and being disappointed with a loss, after last night’s carnage (I arrived back home in Duluth at 3 a.m., good times), I honestly had chalked this one up in the “L” column before the first pitch, and was just hoping to salvage a split on Saturday and Sunday. I figured this would maintain the lead over the Sox somewhere around 3 games, and keep alive a decent shot at home field. Anything more was gravy.
That was a great win and featured everything last night didn’t: Surpirsingly good pitching that kept the ball in the park, sharp defense, double plays actually turned (or at least the lead runner retired), timely hitting, they looked like the post all-star break Twins again. With Pavano and Blackburn going over the weekend I’m still expecting at least a split, except now it will mean a series win and an excellent shot at home field. And go Red Sox!
Agreed
I had this one in the loss column before the first pitch as well. Matt Fox deserves to be the Twins player of the week for what he did on Friday on such short rest. This includes sleeping for only 45 minutes and having to wait out the ceremony on the field.
I was there last night, all 13 innings.
It was a mix of nightmare and euphoria. (Danny Valencia is so dreamy, Mauer beware)
After our pitching staff was wholly destroyed, tonight was such a pleasant surprise. Kudos to Matt Fox. I liked you on Party of 5. I LOVE you for the Twins. I hated you in Lost.
I always loved that one.
Oh, come on.
He came around. It took six seasons, but he learned to believe. He learned Locke was right. He learned BELIEF and HOPE and all that Island stuff dammit. He made amends with his old man.
Worst final episode ever? Nah. It wasn’t Newhart, but it wasn’t Seinfeld either.
I saw 5 episodes and found it unwatchable.
I’d rather watch Scott Baker’ orange shag carpet goatee grow.
But yea, the Twins won!
I always loved that one.
by FoulJack on Sep 4, 2010 1:42 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Lapidus lived!
Thus it was a great finale!
by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 4, 2010 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You nailed everything like always, Stu. Great writeup.
I was anticipating a loss most of the day, and even when it was just 3-2 I felt it might be headed that way. Talk about breaking the free-fall: From Fox’s performance to Thome and Hudson coming back to the good news about Kubel and Baker’s injuries, this one came together very beautifully. Makes my great day just perfect!
And while I haven’t watched the highlights yet (forgot to bring speakers for my new computer that I quickly recieved for free!), I’m lovin’ that defense. I think I’ll carry a Jason Repko man-crush until his next at-bat with runners on.
by MarshalltheIrish on Sep 4, 2010 1:45 AM EDT reply actions
When I get home drunk, this is the kind of thing that I like to see.
Kudos to the Twins for a great win.
Yup
THis was a win of massive proportions. TO beat the Rangers in the first game of the series, with a major league debut starter on the mound, our whole pitching staff toast, and many key starters hurt is enormous.
Matt Fox is an acquiescence of mine, and he did an incredible job. It was a ton of fun to be at the ballpark to see him succeed in his big moment. Usually, I am not a believer in most psychology elements in major league baseball, as I believe the players have a very high level of skill and control over their own state of mind (lower levels of baseball are a totally different story). But Fox’s debut was a totally different story. Obviously, he was nervous, as anybody would be in such a spot, and he was getting lots of help early from his teammates, Mauer and Valencia in particular. Danny V walked over and had a word with him after almost every out in the first 2 or 3 innings, and Mauer came out in every major spot to go over exactly how to pitch to the next hitter. This was HUGE for the young pitcher’s ability to have such success on his big night.
Perhaps more than any other play, Denard Span’s fantastic catch in the first inning was a massive play for Fox. It showed Fox that while he may be facing dangerous major league pitchers, he need not worry because he also had major league gloves at his back. Span also stepped up big in the bottom of the inning providing the kid with his first ML lead to protect.
For a young man thrown into a moment he’s worked his whole life for, in the middle of a pennant race, that help to calm the nerves could have made all the difference.
"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
Forgive my spelling, I MAY have gone out and celebrated the win with a few friends...
"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
I am
I am impressed by the Rangers OF. it seems they ‘stole’ a bunch of XBH in Texas a few weeks ago, and they took away 3 or 4 last night.
its nice to have an OF with range!
by DedicatedFollowerOfFashion on Sep 4, 2010 8:33 AM EDT reply actions
didn't we use to have some
guy named Punttoo on the team??? (I still don’t know were the sarcarm font is) I love to see the young Player do well. Kudos to Valencia, Manship,Burnett, and Butters and Repko(even though Jason’s no rookie) Great game for Fox, now if Slama could step up and I still want to see Waldrop.
Good thing we have all this young talent
They’re getting lots of contributions in the pennant chase from AAA guys – Valencia, Burnett, Manship, Fox, Repko, Tolbert. Rochester must have been a powerhouse with all these guys who just know how to win. What? Seriously, just fire Cliburn then.
Pitchers really "took it"
Not many good defenders at Rochester. I saw somewhere that both Delaney and Burnett had decent FIPs but poor ERAs. It indicates bad luck or bad defense. My money is on bad defense.
by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Sep 4, 2010 10:02 AM EDT reply actions
From who?
Plouffe, Repko, Tolbert and Valencia were all in AAA. Dustin Martin and Jacque Jones can’t be that bad in the outfield. Wilson Ramos was supposed to be above average. That leaves first base.
Rochester had good talent
they were just never all together. That team had a lot of player movement… Plus they lacked starting pitching.
by b1 on Sep 4, 2010 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
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