Remember how I was saying yesterday that the Twins & Orioles keep working very hard to split the season series? Here’s the chance for the Twins to prove me wrong. We’re one game up on them and it’s time to finish strong. It’s definitely the B squad lineup today though so it will be interesting to see what happens because the Orioles have the A team out there – including ‘just off the DL’ Wieters behind homeplate. Given the younger boys on the field behind him, I’m hoping that Kevin Slowey improves on his last start and has a kickass day. We could all use it. According to LENIII, Gardy has the roster subs out there for a few reasons: Span was sick all night after the game (heat can do nasty things like that), he really felt that Hardy needed a day off, Mauer is getting the day game after a night game off (he told us he was going to be doing that more) and still no official word on Hudson. I have to admit that I am kind of looking forward to seeing what the young guys can do when give the opportunity – even Lexi.. again.
| Minnesota | @ | Baltimore |
| Repko, CF | Patterson, C, LF | |
| Casilla, A, 2B | Tejada, 3B | |
| Young, D, LF | Markakis, RF | |
| Thome, DH | Scott, 1B | |
| Cuddyer, 1B | Wigginton, DH | |
| Kubel, RF | Pie, CF | |
| Valencia, 3B | Wieters, C | |
| Punto, SS | Lugo, 2B | |
| Butera, C | Izturis, C, SS | |
| Slowey, P | Arrieta, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 19 | 0 |
| Baltimore | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
Well that was an interesting ‘getaway day’. The Twins claim the series 3 games to 1 with a 10-4 win over the O’s after a rain delay in the middle of the 7th inning. Kevin Slowey earned various baked goods, at least, with a very nice 6 inning performance (we won’t go in to Blackie’s 9th inning hiccups that delayed the inevitable at this point). Jason Repko and Alexi Casilla did a nice enough job of getting on base in the 1-2 spots that any concerns about the two of them being inserted there (not that anyone here would question Gardy’s decisions!) proved without merit… today anyway. Lexi, Little Nicky and DannyV all contributed 3 hits each, Jim Thome launched his 12th HR of the year and Repko claimed his first dinger as a Twin. Baked goods all around.
But Jason Kubel earned Boyfriend of the Day honors with his 3-for-5 performance that included a 2-out Grand Salami in the 3rd inning to give the Twins the lead and a little breathing room besides. Let’s hope this is what 
Kube needs to get himself on a bit of a roll.
After the game, the Twins announced Orlando Hudson would indeed be going on the Disabled List to rest his strained oblique muscle and catcher Jose Morales would be called up from Rochester. It’s an interesting move and it makes one 
wonder if Gardy will be giving Joe Mauer more games at DH and letting Butera and Morales handle more of the catching duties while Joe nurses his heel, shoulder, or whatever the heck else is wrong with him back to health.
Oh, and since I didn’t get my wish to have the Twins trade for Cliff Lee, it’s only fair, I suppose, that those of you who preferred Dan Haren as a trade target don’t get what you wanted either. The Angels have acquired Haren for pitcher Joe Saunders and others. – JC
That’ll teach those of us who have wanted Delmon moved up in the order to be careful what we ask for. He’s #3 and has Punto, Butera, Repko and Casilla hitting in front of him at 8-9-1-2.
First thought I had was that if I were Delmon, I’d march in to Gardy’s office and demand to be dropped back to 7th in the order where I might have some RBI opportunities.
I hope I’m wrong and guys like Repko and Casilla get on base with some regularity because Young certainly deserves to be hitting #3.