5-29-09 Tampa 5, Twins 3

Fan Barometer 
The Twins are now bored with baseball, to the point that they are inventing ways to lose. Tonight's new, improved way to lose started off conventionally: Scott Baker suddenly sucks in the middle innings. But what the Twins did after falling behind 4-1 was new: pull to within one after the Rays' All-Deity thirdbaseman throws one away. Then, in the ensuing half-inning, watch the umpires give the Rays extra outs: one on a questionable strike/not strike call, another on a blown pick-off call at first. (That blown pick-off call came around to score.)

The Twins made noise in the ninth. Joe Mauer came to the plate, a homerun away from the cycle, with a runner on first. A new pitcher came in, Choate. Mighty Joe struck out, and, as Heidi said, Joe Chokes on Choate is this game's headline.

Game Heroes
Evan Longoria, TAM, 3-for-4, HR, R, 3 RBI, E
Carl Crawford, TAM, 2-for-4, HR, 3 R, RBI
Joe Mauer, MIN, 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, R

Game Goats
Jason Kubel, MIN, 0-for-4, 4 LOB
Carlos Gomez, MIN, 0-for-3, 3 LOB

AL Central Standings after the game
Detroit 26-21
Minnesota 24-26
Kansas City 23-25
Chicago 22-25
Cleveland 21-29
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1 comments:

  1. I was unnerved by the lack of ground ball outs in this game. There were, like, five. Out of 51.

    The Twins missed a lot of chances with runners on and in scoring position. You can't do that. But, Shields was able to get just enough out of his lifeless fastball to keep just enough Twins off base.

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