In the way of injury updates, I’m going to suggest checking out LaVelle’s bit from the Strib today because he covers a lot of our known concerns right now. To summarize, Mauer is going to continue to DH until his shoulder feels 100%, Morneau is continuing his workouts and improving and, down in AA, Ben Revere took a pitch to the face last night and could have broken bones – awaiting an update.
So, for tonight, we are two games down in a four game series. After two losses in a row, I really believe that the Twins need to get on the stick and figure out a way to beat the Rays. Given the tightness of the race between the Rays and the Yankees for the AL East, if we can’t beat the Rays, we have a real problem when it comes to the post-season (assuming we get there) since we already know there is a tendency to give it up to the Yankees when we play on their turf. Yes, I am still the optimist that sees the Twins not only taking the AL Central from the White Sox (again 😉 ) but with chances to go all the way through to October. But this series is really a good measure for whether or not the talent we have right at this moment can do that – injuries and all.
All that said, the Twins have to get to David Price which is no small task. AND Scott Baker has to be able to take it to the Rays hitters and get OUTS instead of walks and runs. Let’s go, guys.
| Minnesota | @ | Tampa Bay |
| Span, CF | Zobrist, 1B | |
| Casilla, A, 2B | Crawford, LF | |
| Mauer, DH | Longoria, 3B | |
| Young, D, LF | Joyce, RF | |
| Cuddyer, 1B | Johnson, D, DH | |
| Valencia, 3B | Jaso, J, C | |
| Repko, RF | Upton, B, CF | |
| Hardy, SS | Rodriguez, S, 2B | |
| Butera, C | Bartlett, SS | |
| Baker, S, P | Price, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| Tampa Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
Holy crap that was quite a game. Scott Baker was TOTALLY robbed of the decision tonight. It was an outstanding pitching duel – especially against one of the best pitchers in the game right now. I greatly disagree with D&B, Baker did NOT match Price pitch for pitch, he out-pitched him fairly dramatically – throwing far fewer pitches inning for inning and shutting the Rays out for 8 full innings. Sadly, Matt Capps could NOT convert the Save and I have to admit that I thought to myself, “Rauch could have done THAT.” Of course, he couldn’t since he was back at the hotel during tonight’s game battling an allergic reaction on his hands.
And the Twins offense couldn’t seem to get it’s act together and again left hitters on base and in general committed a lot of defensive mistakes tonight. FINALLY, after a leadoff walk from Lexi and Mauer moving him to 3B, Delmon Young got his first hit of the evening and got the winning RBI. After that, Matt Guerrier came out for a second stellar inning and saved the win for the Twins in the 13th. For that, he deserves a very cold beer in addition to the Save. Thank you very much Matty. However, Baker still rules the day and was voted BOD! Wish we could have gotten you the Win, Scooter.
