Twins, Slowey Lose Yet Again; Mauer, Nishioka Likely Done for Season, Kubel Re-Injured

by RandBall's Stu on Sep 16, 2011 11:16 PM EDT in Game Recaps

"My sadness keeps me company. My sadness and my books."

Another game, another short start, another couple of hurt dudes for the Minnesota Twins. Kevin Slowey lasted just four innings, giving up five runs thanks to a cocktail of pitches out over the plate and shaky fielding; meanwhile, Joe Mauer is probably done for the year with a case of pneumonia, Tsuyoshi Nishioka is done with an oblique strain, and Jason Kubel left the game with a sore foot. (Danny Valencia was also a late scratch with the flu, but hey, Francisco Liriano was activated!)

Thanks to a couple Cleveland errors, the Twins offense wasn't quite as futile as it's been. A drop by Grady Sizemore on a Rene Tosoni liner allowed the first two Twins runs to score, and a throwing error by Tony Sipp on a throw to first led to Minnesota's fourth run of the game. They even made it interesting in the ninth; trailing 7-4, they stung a few balls off Cleveland closer Chris Perez and narrowed the gap to 7-6 before Perez struck Tosoni out to end it. That's a 6-game losing streak for Minnesota, and 11 of 12 overall.

Studs: Joe Benson (a single, two doubles, a triple and a mullet; I believe this is the Kelly Gruber Cycle); Jim Thome with his 603rd home run, this one off of Joe Nathan; and what the hell, Kyle Waldrop (should've had two solid innings of relief, but another wild Plouffe throw on a routine double play extended the inning and led to Phil Dumatrait and Cleveland's sixth run).

Duds: Slowey, Plouffe, Ben Revere doing god knows what in the outfield besides letting Thome score on him, whoever cleans and disinfects the Twins clubhouse.

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Wow

All I am going to say is that the Twins do somewhat care about the season, but that was due to a chance to eliminate Cleveland.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew
Champagne SuperTolbert Saves the day!!!

by Jessy S on Sep 16, 2011 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

The quest for 100 lives on!

Granted, this was one of the tougher games on the schedule to set us back on that…

"bobpuller" – arch-enemy of all SSSers and a twinktown troll. There are many meanings to this phrase and none of them are good.

by bobpuller on Sep 16, 2011 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

gotta lose 10 of 13 to get 100 losses ....

The way this crew is playing, they can do it.

by BD57 on Sep 17, 2011 12:30 AM EDT reply actions

It's happening!

by spanspanspan on Sep 17, 2011 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions

You can count on RandBall's Stu for the laffs

At first I thought this might be a straight game summary. But no! It’s more satirical hijinx! Nothing like humor to break the tension after a nail-biting division contest. Thank Gawd tomorrow will bring another fine contest to a team at top of its form.

However, one of the jokes was too over the top for my funnybone. There isn’t a centerfielder in baseball who couldn’t throw out Jim Thome on a routine single when he started at second. That crossed the line from satire into silliness. But otherwise, great work!

By the way I had a coworker tonight tell me he loves the Twins rookies, and Tosoni/Plouffe/Hughes/Parmaleee/Benson will all be 25 HR, 100 RBI guys. So more good news!

Steve Goodman lives.

by twinsbrewer on Sep 17, 2011 1:35 AM EDT reply actions

Combined?

By the way I had a coworker tonight tell me he loves the Twins rookies, and Tosoni/Plouffe/Hughes/Parmaleee/Benson will all be 25 HR, 100 RBI guys. So more good news!

by markos on Sep 17, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

My thoughts

Every team claims to have the best fans in baseball, but the ovations Jim Thome received as a member of the visiting Indians just proves to me that Twins fans are best and classiest fans in baseball. Cleveland fans booed Jim earlier this year while he was a Twin. Twins fans gave Jim Thome, the Indian, a standing ovation. Bravo.

by Oi Oi Boy on Sep 17, 2011 2:15 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Cliff Lee Jr.

Another extraordinary outing from him. I foresee several Cy Young trophies in his future. Go go go!

"I learned something yesterday. No use in having rules if there's no punishment for breaking them. You'll be fine if you bite down on the trigger. Enjoy your breakfast."

by John_Locke on Sep 17, 2011 2:58 AM EDT reply actions