Date: 9/20/09

Opponent: Detroit Tigers

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Baker

Final Score: L 6-2

Record: 76-73

Best Moment: It's hard to think of anything positive. The game was long, kind of boring, frustrating, and it really felt like a death knell for the Twins. I know we won the series, I know we picked up a game on them from the start of the series, I know we still have 4 head to head games, but it just feels like a mountain to climb. I suppose we'll see how the next few games play out. If we just keep pace with the Tigers until our series against them, taking 3 of 4 would still leave us a game back. So let's hope we can make up some ground before then. Who knows, the Twins could go on some sort of 5 or 6 game losing streak. It would certainly follow their typical pattern; I wouldn't put it past them. I'm not giving up all hope, just most of it.

Of all the games in this series, this one looked the most favorable for us. Of course we lost. Baker has been our best pitcher of late, and naturally he looked terrible, making it only 4.2 innings. He was done in after he started the inning by walking the 8 hitter and giving up a single to the number 9 hitter. He gave up 3 runs in the inning before being pulled, and Liriano later allowed the Tigers to tack on 2 more runs. The offense didn't fare much better. Kubel and Cuddyer didn't have a hit, and Span had a bad, bad day at the plate. Owned by Nate Robertson, it's enough to make me ill.

Most Questionable Moment: I've given up trying to understand Gardy's rationale for his lineups, I really have, but can I just say that I love how he wants the best defense on the infield but is willing to trot out possibly our worst defensive outfield alignment. Exhibit A: Jason Kubel playing balls off the baggy in this game. Exhibit B: Delmon Young doing anything in left field. I know the infield is more important, but yikes.

Worst Moment: Not getting the sweep. It sucks. Baker needs to perform under pressure, and in this game he just didn't.

Quotations of the Day:

• "Coming into this series, we knew we had to at least get two. A sweep would have been great. That's a good ballclub over there, and there's a reason why they're at the top of the division." - Joe Mauer
• "You've just seen over this last week what can happen in the course of six games. We still have 13 to play. Obviously they're in the driver's seat right now, three games up. But anything can happen." - Michael Cuddyer
• "It's really tough to sweep any team. I think we're definitely playing better baseball. I think we're playing the baseball that we're capable of playing. We definitely should be able to put another win streak together." - Scott Baker. Yeah, you better hope so buddy.
• "He just didn't locate in that inning, and ended up giving up some runs." - Ron Gardenhire, on Baker's performance in the 5th inning.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Denard Span (0 for 4, 4 strikeouts, 3 left on base), Scott Baker (4.2 innings pitched, 8 hits, 1 walk, 4 earned runs, 1 loss) and Francisco Liriano (1.1 innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 walk, 1 home run, 2 earned runs).