It's as easy as 1-2-3.

Jason Kubel hit a 2-run shot in the fourth off Chicago starter Gavin Floyd, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead.  Michael Cuddyer, who had doubled directly in front of our new full-time designated hitter, was the other run.  Said Kubel about the upper-deck shot:

"I was just trying to get the runner over from second base, and he left it down the middle," Kubel said. "I was trying to pull it and ended up putting a lot of backspin on it. And I got it up and out."

Floyd agreed, admitting leaving a fastball down the middle was a mistake to a hitter like Kubel.  The towering blast was Jason's fourth home run of the season, and while it's early puts him on pace for more than 20 bombs in 2008.  His .247/.268/.398 line to this point isn't anything to write home about (in fact it's disappointing), but there aren't many position players off to good starts for the Twins.  As the season rolls along, Kubel should find his stride.

Bonser was like a man possessed, taking out the Chi-Sox early on the fastball before mixing in his breaking balls.  Seven strong innings, eight strikeouts, a walk and only six hits.  Joe Crede's solo shot in the seventh was his only damage.  Gardenhire was impressed:

"He set a nice tone. I think you saw some really good breaking balls. His curveball was going down hard. He had a nice slider. And he mixed them all in there. But it all starts with locating the fastball early in the ballgame and setting it up."

While Pat Neshek and Dennys Reyes combined for a scoreless eighth, it was Joe Nathan came on and pitched a perfect ninth inning.  There's nothing like finishing a vicotry with a double-shot of Joe!  Twins win, 3-1.

With Tuesday's win the Twins improve to 12-14, which puts them in a tie for second place with the Royals.  While many of Minnesota's upcoming opponents will are early favorites for October runs, hopefully the Twins can take advantage of having 15 of their next 21 games at home.

Other Highlights

*  The 1 and 2 hitters for the Twins were 0-for-8.  His hitless night left Brendan Harris' OBP at .344, still second best on the team.

*  Joe Mauer was 1-for-3, with a triple and a walk.  He's now hitting .306/.362/.400.

*  Delmon Young was 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of stolen bases, giving him six in seven attempts.  While there's still no power, Delmon is 10-for-27 in his last seven games.  Hopefully this means he's heating up.

*  In his last two starts, Bonser has pitched 13 innings and allowed three runs and just nine hits.  BOOOOFFF!!!

*  Pat Neshek has held opponents scoreless in his last six appearances (5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 K).  His ERA is under 4 for the first time since being lit up by the Royals on April 4th.

*  Dennys Reyes:  LOOGY extraordinaire.  11 appearances, 8.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 runs allowed.

*  Joe Nathan's eighth save ties him for third in baseball, behind something named George Sherrill and Francisco Rodriguez.

See you tonight!!

Close contest blown open by grand slam.

Nick Blackburn made his second start of the season on Monday afternoon, and turned in another solid performance.  Over five innings he allowed two runs, while striking out five and scattering seven hits.  Leaving the game with a 3-2 lead, on most occasions the Twins bullpen would have locked it down.

Instead, the bottom of the seventh inning turned into a nightmare.  Matt Guerrier got Orlando Cabrera to fly out to lead off the inning, but Jim Thome walked and Paul Konerko singled to chase Guerrier from the game.  Neshek relieved him, and on a high-and-tight slider Jermaine Dye fisted a single up the middle.  Thome scored and the game was tied.

After retiring A.J. Pierzynski for the second out of the inning, Carlos Quentin singled to load the bases for Twin Killer Joe Crede.  Neshek delivered a sinking fastball that just missed outside before feeding him a fastball at the belt.  Crede turned on the pitch and launched it into the left field seats.  The five-run inning gave Chicago a 7-3 lead.

The Twins were able to manage another run in the eighth, but the damage had been done.  Matt Tolbert reached on a single in the ninth, but Carlos Gomez (who stole his fifth base of the season) ended the game on a 6-4-3 double play.  Minnesota falls to 3-5.

Between tomorrow and Wednesday I'm hoping to get up some research that I've done on pitch selection for the Twins so far this season.  I'll see you for the game tomorrow!