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The Twins started off competitive tonight. Starter Mike Pelfrey was able to escape the Radke inning, and Joe Mauer--on the very first pitch he has seen in eight days--was able to drop a RBI single to put the Twins ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Unfortunately, Pelfrey continued to struggle, allowing multiple base runners in the second. By the top of the third, the Royals broke through, scoring four runs off Pelfrey, thanks largely to a three run home run by Mike Moustakas.
Pelfrey, despite allowing multiple base-runners, was able to escape the fourth inning giving up no more runs--but that was all he would pitch (alas, he'd already thrown 93 pitches). The Twins were able to get one more run off a Ryan Doumit single in the bottom of the inning, but that was the end of it.
Ryan Pressly pitched a beautiful three perfect innings before handing the ball to Brian Duensing, who promptly gave up another home run to Mike Freaking Moustakas (at least it was a solo shot). Duensing attempted to finish the 9th, but faltered again, leading to two more runs that ultimately left the Twins in a 7-2 hole. Josh Roenicke came in to get all of the outs to end the inning, but the Twins never made it back.
Bummer.
STUDS
- Ryan Pressly: 3 inning pitched, 0 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs, 2 strike-outs.
- Joe Mauer: 2 for 4, 1 RBI. Only Twins player with more than 1 hit. Also: babies.
- Ryan Doumit: 1 for 3, 1 RBI, 1 Walk. Somehow lazier than Mauer today (???).
- Mike Pelfrey: 4 innings pitched, 8 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 home run, 3 strike-outs. It was a struggle, and looked like it.
- Chris Colabello: 0 for 4, 0 RBI, 0 walks, 1 stike-out.
- Pedro Florimon: 0 for 3, 2 strikeouts, 0 walks, bad non-dive in the field.
- Joe Mauer talked to reporters before the game--and he was the most animated I've ever seen him (but he is still Joe). You can tell he is just gitty. Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press has several good and short videos you can watch online of Mauer talking to reporters about his babies.
- Joe Mauer also told reporters that, contrary to earlier reports, he doesn't yet know if his twins are identical or fraternal.
- The Twins, along with Feed My Starving Children, have created the HomeRuns4Hunger drive. Fans can pledge either 22 cents or $1.32 to donate per home run the Twins hit, maxing out at 130 home runs (for a possible grand total of $29 or $172 respectively). Considering the Twins are never even going to hit the 130 home run total (phhhssstttt), consider at least the 22 cent pledge. It's for a good cause!
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Win Expectancy Graph
