This a quick & dirty post as I’m getting offline due to a tornado on the ground and heading my way.
| Minnesota | @ | Arizona |
| Revere, CF | Bloomquist, SS | |
| Plouffe, SS | Roberts, R, 3B | |
| Kubel, RF | Upton, J, RF | |
| Morneau, 1B | Young, C, CF | |
| Valencia, 3B | Miranda, 1B | |
| Young, D, LF | Nady, LF | |
| Rivera, Re, C | Johnson, K, 2B | |
| Casilla, A, 2B | Blanco, H, C | |
| Liriano, P | Hudson, D, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 3 | 8 | 0 |
Another close loss, but the guys got swept out of yet another ballpark. It woas good to see Delmon get a ball over the fence and the pitching held up better, but this time there were plenty of offensive opportunities that were not capitalized upon. It would be nice to see the Twins put all aspects of the game together in one game. I also am going to be interested to hear why Michael Cuddyer was on deck getting ready to pinch hit for Alexi Casilla instead of getting his cuts in place of Rene Rivera. I’m not one for constantly second guessing the manager (though I don’t feel in-game strategy has ever been Ron Gardenhire’s strength), but unless Drew Butera was not available to catch an inning or two, it makes no sense to me at all to let Rivera hit with 2 out in the 9th inning when you have Cuddyer available. Very curious use (or lack, thereof) of the bench.
It’s time for the boys to return home. They’ve played about twice as many road games as home games so far and that has to change at some point. I’m planning on making the drive up to the Cities for the Killebrew memorial on Thursday and a couple of the Angel games next weekend, so if it’s not too much to ask, I’d like to see the guys get a bit of momentum going before I get up there! – JC