Yankees 3, Twins 0: Why Can’t We Have Nice Things?

The world has many nice things: Shar Pei puppies, Anderson Cooper, series wins over—no! Just even series splits with—the New York Yankees… but the Twins can’t have these things. They just can’t.

Today’s Twins-Yankees match-up wasn't all that bad. The Twins held the Yankees scoreless up until the sixth inning—which seemed a lot longer than it sounds because, hey, it’s the Yankees, and the games last forever. The Twins accomplished this feat even despite (or because of?) the fact starting pitcher Nick Blackburn was pulled after only four outs with a right forearm injury. Anthony Swarzak came in and retired all eight Yankees he faced—but alas, Jose Mijares entered the game, the Twins gave up an inside-the-park home run to Curtis Granderson (Target Field’s first), and it was all downhill from there.

The Yankees did not pound the Twins like the Twins pounded the Yankees last night, but the loss stung. The Twins had a chance—a chance!—to not lose yet another series to the Yankees, and it slipped through their fingers like a walleye through a drunk ice-fisherman’s frozen hands.

I guess there’s always next year.

Studs, duds, and notes after the jump.

Studs:

• Anthony Swarzak: Pitched 2.2 innings without giving up a single hit or walk.
• Joe Mauer: Minnesota's golden son went 3 for 4 while playing first base for late lineup scratch Justin Morneau.

Duds:

• The bottom third of the linup: Rene Tosoni, Matt Tolbert, and Drew Butera—who went a combined 0 for 10 with three strikeouts. Talk about a rally killer.
  

Notes:

• Nick Blackburn seems very likely to hit the DL. Joe C is already reporting that Anthony Swarzak will take Blackie's spot in the rotation.
• Leaving Target Field, I walked past the player’s parking lot and looked down to see if anything was going on. A nicely groomed man with big ears and no chin came out and walked to a black town car—Jorge Posada! He was by far the first player out of the clubhouse. Just makes me think: "awkward…"