I missed the first four innings due to my daughter's orchestra concert (it was good, she rocked out on "Hot Cross Buns"), and the next two innings I spent flipping between the game and Lost (it was good, everybody died or got blown up). As it turned out, innings 7-9 were representative of the whole game, as the Twins won their first walk-off game at Target Field, 4-3.
The MVP of the night was Nick Blackburn, who pitched a complete game and gave the Twins bullpen a much-needed day off. His sinker was clearly working, and he ran into real trouble all of twice: once in the middle innings when the Tigers collected four consecutive hits to tie the game at 2-2, and once when he threw a breaking ball that Brennan Boesch DID NOT MISS (/blyleven) in the 9th to tie the game at 3-3. Beyond that, geez Louise, Nick. Good to have you back.
The vice-MVP honor goes to J.J. Hardy, who:
- Put the Twins ahead 3-2 in the 6th with an RBI single off Guitar Hero Zumaya;
- Made a diving stop of an infield single in the 9th and caught Alex Avila off of third base, starting a rundown that got the Twins out of the inning;
- Hit what looked like the game-winning home run in the bottom of the 9th, which turned out to be "just" a triple;
- Scored the winning run when The Legend of Wilson Ramos' very presence forced a Ryan Perry wild pitch.
Notes:
- Jim Thome and Delmon Young got the Twins on the board off Dontrelle Willis with a double and single, respectively.
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Joe Mauer is back to day-to-day and is no longer week-to-week.
- The Legend of Wilson Ramos went hitless, yet somehow was at the plate when the Twins won the game.
- It appears that the Twins have a chance for a sweep on Wednesday. LET'S DO THIS.