Date: 9/18/09

Opponent: Detroit Tigers

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Duensing

Final Score: W 3-0

Record: 75-72

Best Moment: Cuddyer homers to put the Twins on the board. We certainly started off the series on the right foot. Duensing continues to impress as a starter and pitched 6.1 innings with only 4 hits. I honestly don't know where this is coming from. His minor league performance (and performance out of the bullpen) wouldn't indicate this sort of success, so I keep expecting the wheels to fall off. I hope they don't, but I keep expecting it. The bullpen held the lead with only 1 more hit allowed, and we're now 3 games back of the Tigers in the division. We also tied our season-high records of 5 straight wins and 3 above .500. Here's hoping we can stay there for once.

The offense wasn't overwhelming against Porcello. Besides the home run, our other run scored on a double by Delmon Young. Kubel, Young and Morales all had 2 hits, and Span, Cuddyer and Tolbert each had 1. Cabrera made a nice defensive play when he backpedaled to catch a shallow pop-up and saved a run. Tolbert also had a good play and continues to piss me off by his very presence regardless of whether he plays well or sucks.

Most Questionable Moment: This wasn't in our game, but the White Sox wore green in honor of being halfway to St. Patrick's Day. Except St. Patrick's Day is on the 17th, not the 18th. And it's just a stupid idea anyway. Maybe they were hoping for the luck of the Irish? Cuz they're looking deader than mouse at a cat convention.

Worst Moment: Joe Nathan nearly gives me a nervous breakdown again. He seems to have little trouble with the first 2 outs, but after that it's a crapshoot. I can't take it. 

Quotations of the Day:

• "It kind of gave me some chills. I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't know if I was supposed to acknowledge it or keep walking." - Brian Duensing, on receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he left the game.
• "This was an important game, and now tomorrow's an important game. Can't worry about tonight and can't worry about Sunday. That's how we're going to have to approach these next 15 games. Each and every night we're going to have to go out and find a way to win." - Michael Cuddyer
• "[I tripped and] tried to turn it into a dive and just made a fool of myself." - Brian Duensing, regarding a diving (or tripping) play he made in an attempt to field a weakly hit ball.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Orlando Cabrera (0-4, 2 LOB)