Mariners 5, Twins 2: Early Innings Hole Too Much for Doumit's Two Homers

Phil Mackey has just posted a few numbers, highlighting how truly horrendous this road trip has been for the Twins. It's not just offense, it's not just the pitching, it's not just the defense. It's really everything. And nobody knows it more than the players themselves.

Ryan Doumit showed the kind of power he's capable of generating by turning on a pair of late-game fastballs and dropping them into the right field seats. Naturally nobody was on base, which meant the solo blasts didn't cut enough into what had been a 5-0 lead.

That lead came early, which is starting to feel like a very familiar theme tune. Nick Blackburn missed the strike zone for his first six pitches but he didn't have trouble missing bats, with Jesus Montero delivering a big two-run double in a three-run first. Mike Carp launched his first homer of the season, leading off the second by putting a charge into a fat breaking ball.

Today was an interesting game. It was like watching something whose ending was predetermined. Maybe it's the path the season has taken so quickly. Maybe it's the arrival of the second outfielder claimed off waivers. Maybe it's the impending arrival of a mid-level shortstop prospect and a quadruple-A pitcher.

Or maybe it's just me.

Studs, duds and notes after the jump.

Notes

• With his 3-for-3 (plus a walk) day, Doumit raised his slugging percentage over 100 points and his on-base percentage 35 points. He's now slugging .462 off right-handed pitchers.
• Denard Span reached base two more times today. He's the only member of the Twins hitting over .300 (.309), and with a .361 on-base percentage joins Joe Mauer (.375) and Josh Willingham (.402) as the only two Twins who boast OBPs above .316.
• I mentioned in pre-game that Blackburn has really struggled against left-handed hitters this season. Oddly enough the Mariners' lefties were only 1-for-11 on fastballs that were put into play. Instead they smashed his changeup (3-for-5) and, of course, the one curveball they put into play left the yard.
• Hector Noesi, who was also mentioned in pre-game as being owned by left-handed hitters, fared a bit better. Minnesota lefties only managed three hits off fifteen balls in play.
• Brian Duensing and Jared Burton continue to be bright spots in the bullpen, combining for two scoreless innings, striking out for and not allowing a hit. In his last nine appearances, Burton's 9.1 innings of work have yielded ten strikeouts, two walks...and not a single hit. That's your bright spot of the game, ladies and gentlemen.