Game 141: Los Tigres @ Los Gemelos
Posted by Andrew on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Results of the Roadtrip
At Angels: 2-2
At Mariners: 1-2
At A's: 2-2
At Blue Jays: 0-3
_________________
Total: 5-9, 0.321 WP
Before the road trip, SBG posted a poll asking how we felt the Twins would do. I, like most, chose that 7-8 wins would be alright. After a split with the team with the best record in the league, I must admit I was optimistic. Unfortunately, things did not turn out as we all would have liked. But now, the Twins are back at the Dome where they are 46-23. Additionally, the Twins are 10-5 (5-1@ Home) against Detroit this year. If ever there were a series where the Twins could get on track, I think this would have to be it.
Today's Starters:
Armando Galarraga (12-4, ERA: 3.17, xFIP: 4.47) vs. Francisco Liriano (4-3, ERA: 3.45, xFIP: 4.82)
In his last start, Liriano went 7 innings, allowing only 1ER on 5 hits. The Twins lead 2-1 entering the bottom of the 9th. However, Joe Nathan led the 9th off with a single and HBP before throwing a sacrifice bunt past the thirdbaseman trying to get the lead runner. This allowed two runs to score and the A's to win the game.
Galarraga also threw 7 innings in his last start, allowing 2 ER. Galarraga left the game with the score tied at 2-2. The Tigers won the game with 2 runs in the 8th off of KC's bullpen.
I'm going beat FTLT to the punch here and say that we gotta stay positive.
I usually save it for the late innings but, hell, if there was ever a time that we needed it to start the game, it is this one.
Here's some more positives: The Twins have won every home series against AL Central teams this season.
The Twins have won 11 consecutive home series. Their last series loss was 2 of 3 to the O's in early June.
I'm all about positivity
Watts- where were you for the draft today?
I had to record some clients this afternoon
Galarraga is 0-3 in his career against the Twins in four starts and has allowed 9 runs in two starts at the Dome.
The Twins really need to limit the impact their bullpen has on this series. The Twins' bullpen has blown leads of 9-4, 5-1, and 4-1 for three of their five losses to the Tigers. Another was a 19-1 pounding.
I have no doubt that if Kirby were still playing, he would be telling his teammates right now to climb on his back because he was going to carry them to the win. I really feel this game is that important for the psyche of the team so they can get their home mojo back. Hopefully, Mauer and Morneau can step up and carry the team with their bats, if not their words.
First inning could be key. The top four of the Tigers' order is killer. After that, it really drops off. No Carlos Guillen and of course Ivan Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees.
Liriano faces the top four and only allows a broken-bat single in an easy inning. Me likey.
I just noticed that David Purcey will be pitching the final game of the Jays' series with the Rays, which means he will be the only pitcher that the White Sox will miss when the Jays go to Chicago. Purcey was the lefty the Twins got to for five runs in four innings.
where is Dan Gladden?
Lets keep these balls coming.
walk this way!
be bap ba dop she dap ba doop doop
should of had about 3 runs there
but I'll take a lead after 1
UNO!
Hard to complain about getting a run without a hit, but it still felt like we really let Galarraga off the hook. Hopefully, he doesn't find his command after that inning.
Liriano is looking pretty good through 2.
Delmon would have gotten that.......
or not.
I don't know if anyone here plays strat-o-matic but Marcus Thames card in 2006 is absolutely awesome.
Ridiculous number of walks and 1 run to show for it
Oh, and who here figured for sure Gomez would swing and miss at strike 3 on the 2-2 count?
I did, I did!
I thought he had a pretty good AB. Didn't swing until two strikes and the third strike was a pitch that started in the middle of the plate and fell out. The ones that kill me are when they never are even close to the strike zone.
Blargh, Young and the Restless wasn't on today, so now the girlfriend is watching the recording of the Hills instead. I would kill for a soap opera right now.
I'm liking the swinging strikeouts.
Liriano is looking nasty. He touched 93 with his fastball and it has a lot of movement on it. His slider is really biting tonight, too.
Dang Liriano... Nice to see that.
This team really kills me when they get a pitcher's count up early. Galarraga threw 45 pitches to get the first five outs. The last four have come on seven pitches. At least three of those outs came before a strike was called on the batter (I didn't see Mauer's AB).
Liriano looking dominant so far.
Man, its a shame this Liriano wasn't ready at the beginning of the season, but I'm glad he's here now.
okay, great minds, blah blah blah
been too long without the K meter...
thats some awesome Placement there!
_elmon!
I was kinda hoping the Twins would win the game without a hit, but I guess I can't complain about that.
There's your (Delmon) Young and the Restless, cheaptoy!
It'll have to do.
Of course, now I'm getting assaulted by the "new" 90210, so the (Delmon) Young and the Restless better have something even bigger in store.
Not going to gain on the Sox tonight. Their up 7-0 after knocking out spot starter Dustin Moseley. Juan Uribe has a pair of two-run homers.
ack. I blame myself.
Who is working with Gordo tonight? Chris ____?
Chris Attabury
he is teh pre/post game show host
I have no idea where Dazzle is. I have one and a half ears on the local football game, and half an ear and yahoo score tracker on the Twins game
He's alright, but his voice is too high/muffled.
**crickets**
Sorry, 90210 is just too enthralling for me to be able to post here at the same time.
GoGo!!
Oh, gawd. Gordo pining for the bunt to advance GoGo to third.
You can't do the little things right unless you do the little things.
PTL. I thought the House was empty. I was expecting a phone call with a creepy voice saying "I know what you did last summer."
Dat sum RNC after party footage?
OKGo!
You know Rhu_Ru, it used to bug me that you were trying to tag the most exciting Twins player in a long time with the name of a one-hit-wonder power-pop band from Chicago. Sadly, Carlos has come down to that level.
Talk about a Cheap Trick...
I'd be more than happy if he were a One-hit (per night) Wonder.
OKGo has at least two "hits" (about the same as Gomez), and are more well loved for their choreography than their music, but I get your drift.
more well
lovedknown for their choreography...*fixed
Don't worry, pal, you got a free pass. I blame your daughter.
Bases loaded for the mountie, lets do something.
Salami!!!!
Good evening, folks
YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE BOARD!
OH YEAH!!!
MOUNTIE!!!!
Mountie up! Let's let Morneau carry the team!
My timing was impeccable.
channeling the ghost of Kirby
You are shitting me. I got chased off my desktop by the Mrs. just as Joe walked. In the time it takes me to get the laptop up and running, I miss Morny's bomb AND the rest of the inning? c-rap.
All things considered, you'd best do that again the next time Mourneau is up, baseball being superstitious and the what not.
Talk to the hand.
That slider of Liriano's is getting nastier with every outing, and his control of the fastball is much better than just a few games ago. He's going to be something next year, I think.
Damn fine inning capped off by striking the hardest guy in baseball to strike out.
Why Bill the Cat??
[ed: duuhhhh, dead tigers....]
I work with what Teh Goog gives me (being in the Ministry of Information Retrieval and all)