First some good news: if you haven’t already heard, Joe Mauer’s MRI today came back with good news. It’s just some inflammation, they’ll likely give him a cortizone shot and he should be back in 4-5 days. Justin Morneau still doesn’t have any specific prognosis other than extremely imminent fatherhood. Obviously, that also effects his possible playing time. But I wish him the best with that and health and safety for mom and baby!! I can’t wait for news.
The somewhat less than good news: because of the shortened schedule between the end of the game tonight and tomorrow’s noon game, even if the Twins DO clinch tonight, they will not be allowing fans to stay and track the White Sox game as they need to get the field ready for tomorrow.
The bad news: Hardy is a late scratch from the lineup tonight due to a migraine. Punto gets his spot at short.
| Cleveland | @ | Minnesota |
| Brantley, CF | Span, CF | |
| Sutton, SS | Hudson, O, 2B | |
| Choo, RF | Kubel, RF | |
| Hafner, DH | Cuddyer, 1B | |
| Brown, J, 1B | Thome, DH | |
| Marte, A, 3B | Young, D, LF | |
| Crowe, LF | Valencia, 3B | |
| Valbuena, 2B | Punto, SS | |
| Marson, C | Butera, C | |
| Carmona, F, P | Baker, S, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Cleveland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | x | 6 | 12 | 1 |
Tonight is definitely a night of landmarks. This season’s 3 millionth fan walked through the gates to see a game at Target Field – this the most people to come see Twins baseball in a season since sometime in the 80’s, I think, and we still have a lot more to go.
And our most sincere Congratulations to Ron Gardenhire for his 800th win as Manager of the MN Twins! There are many who give him a lot of criticism but I gotta say that he’s been someone I have respected more in this game than any other manager I can think of. This isn’t an easy job and he knows how to make his boys shine. Sadly, that particular talent has kept him as the bridesmaid never the bride in the MOY honors but .. maybe this year! Thanks for all you do Gardy!
And of course the biggest landmark that we’re all waiting for is whether or not this win is able to clinch the division title for the 6th time in 9 years. Apparently the boys are still in the clubhouse watching the White Sox just like we’re all doing here at home. They had all planned to go home tonight because it’s a short night before tomorrow’s noon game but I think the turn around rally of tonight’s game just has the whole team pumped up and they want to wait it out. I hope they are having a great time in that clubhouse and really enjoying the game of baseball and the experiences of this season so far.
Tonight really did work up the energy tonight because it started pretty roughly. Baker didn’t have a GREAT outting to speak of. He’s obviously still working some things out. It wasn’t horrible but he’s not ready to be a post game starter quite yet. But once that turn around started, it seemed like EVERYONE was contributing. So just in case the boys are planning to be doing any imbibing tonight, as a special one night occurance, we here at Knuckleballs are providing a giant sub sandwich for the whole team – all you can eat so the boys can keep themselves well-snacked while watching the Sox in California.
However, the special BOD award for tonights game chat does go to Jim Thome for his leadership tonight, including 2 hits, a HR, 2 RBI and a walk. It was brilliantly done and I was MOST impressed by that lovely single to left field beating the fielding shift! Great job, Big Jim!
