GameChat – Indians @ Twins #2, 12:10pm, FSN am1500

I’m sure last night’s rainout inconvenienced about 40,000 people who planned on attending the game, not to mention everyone who was hoping to watch it, but it also seems to have bought Justin Morneau just enough extra time to work his way back off the sick bed and in to the line up! Now let’s just hope he doesn’t take too long to get his game together.

I don’t really believe in “statement games”, especially in April. That said, after the slow start the Twins have had and the way Cleveland has racked up wins this month, there’s something to be said for going out in the first head-to-head match up of the season and announcing loud and clear that if the Indians are going to be more than pretenders in the race for the AL Central championship, they’re going to have to go through Minnesota to get there. I think that was communicated clearly today.

I think our guys liked that unscheduled off day on Friday! Ten runs!! That’s the kind of thing we were hoping to see out of this line up! The Twins got two hits each out of Lexi, Denard, the Jasons (Repko and Kubel) and Justin, as well! In fact, Doc came through with a 2-run single immediately after the Tribe intentionally walked Kubel with runners on 2nd and 3rd. That’ll teach ’em! Danny ValenSEEYA went yard for the second time this season. So much offense from so many contributors that a full dessert buffet for all is probably called for.

It was also good to see Joe Nathan come on to pitch the 9th inning, throw the ball up in the 93 mph range, strike out two hitters during a 1-2-3 inning AND get the kind of standing, stomping, cheering crowd support that a guy who has worked his butt off for the Twins and their fans for so long deserves. Well done, Joe and well done Twins fans!

But, as strange as it may seem on a day when the bats finally woke up, today’s Boyfriend of the Day has to be a pitcher. Brian Duensing flat out owned the Indians hitters, giving up only one run in seven innings. He gave up only 5 hits and walked just one, while striking out three. A very efficient day, throwing only 90 pitches. Keep it up, Brian!