It’s hard to find bad news on a day when Batgirl returns but there was a couple clouds on the horizon in the bullpen today. Apparently, Fuentes tried to throw again and still had a stiff back. That is telling staff that perhaps there is something more wrong so he’s getting an MRI. I don’t like to think about backs & unexplained pain and MRI’s.
In a ‘clouds parting’ kind of discussion, Morneau talked to reporters today and epxressed that he VERY optimistic about coming back. He still has symptoms but he says that he has more good days than bad days and I’m a fan enough to want to believe him so I will. At any rate, I really hope that he’s back sooner rather than later because I really like the idea of making further progress in post-season positioning. We’re only 4 games behind the Yankees afterall – no need to keep looking over our shoulder at who’s behind us, we should look forward and work for it!
Thome was a late scratch from the lineup – still waiting to hear why from folk working the clubhouse but for whatever reason, Morales is taking his spot in the lineup.
| Kansas City | @ | Minnesota |
| Blanco, G, CF | Span, CF | |
| Aviles, M, 2B | Hudson, O, 2B | |
| Fields, 3B | Mauer, C | |
| Betemit, 1B | Kubel, RF | |
| Betancourt, Y, SS | Cuddyer, 1B | |
| Pena, B, C | Morales, J, DH | |
| May, DH | Young, D, LF | |
| Gordon, A, LF | Hardy, SS | |
| Miller, Ja, RF | Tolbert, 3B | |
| Greinke, P | Duensing, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Kansas City | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 4 | 5 | 0 |
You have to kind of figure Zach Greinke is counting the days until he can be a Free Agent and sign with the Twins, if only for the reason that he won’t have to pitch against them any more. I can’t think of any ace starting pitcher that the Twins have dominated like they have this guy. He actually pitched well tonight and for a while there were real concerns about the lack of hits coming off the Twins’ bats. But in the end, 
despite a bit of a shaky 9th inning by Mr. Capps, our guys had another win and, combined with the Tiger win, another full game added to their lead over the Bitch Sox in the standings. AND… that’s TWO SWEEPS in a row, gang!
The concern over the hitting finally melted away as the bottom part of the Twins order took over and decided they would not stand still for being shut out by the Landed Gentry (obligatory Batgirl reference). Matt Tolbert came through with timely hitting and Denard Span had a nice RBI triple after the boys at the bottom of the order rolled things over to the top again. For that, they both deserve a healthy slice of pie of their choice… but JJ Hardy’s pair of hits included his first Target Field home run, in to the bullpen, earning him a whole pie to himself, a la mode, if he’s up for it!
But Boyfriend of the Day honors go to Brian Duensing. We were concerned about the pitch count being racked up the first 2-3 innings, but almost before you could say “Go Big Red!”, it was the 8th inning and Brian was still shutting down the Royal hitters. Eight innings of 6 hit baseball and 7 strikeouts, while giving up only 1 run is BOD worthy! – JC
