Date: 9/23/09

Opponent: Chicago White Sox

Home/Away: Away

Starting Pitcher: Duensing

Final Score: W 8-6

Record: 79-73

Best Moment: Nick Punto gets a big 2-out hit to drive in 2 runs with the Twins only up by 1 run. The runs ended up being hugely important as the White Sox kept adding on runs (thanks a lot, Bobby Keppel). We swept the Sox at Chicago for the first time in 3 years, and it couldn't have come at a better time for us. The Tigers destroyed Cleveland, so we remain 2.5 games back. We're 6 games above .500 for the first time as well, and we've won 9 of 10 games. I honestly didn't think this team was capable of that.

Duensing struggled more than he has in his past starts, only going 5.2 innings with 3 earned runs (1 unearned). The offense more than made up for it though, with 13 hits. Gomez had a run-scoring double, Cabrera had 2 hits, a run and an RBI, Mauer had a hit and a walk, Kubel didn't get any hits, but he did walk twice and score a run, Cuddyer had 2 hits with a run and RBI, Young had 3 hits with a double and a run, Harris doubled twice with a run and RBI, Morales as a pinchhitter walked and scored, Tolbert looked like Tolbert, and Punto looked great with 2 hits (including a double), a walk, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. It was clearly a group effort in this game.

Sadly, I also made a rather unfortunate discovery last night. My dog hates Joe Mauer. Or I should say my dog is terrified of Joe Mauer. And by Joe Mauer I mean my Mauer on a stick. Upon spotting it on the window sill, he launched into an immediate vocal assault on the offending object. Naturally I picked it up and chased him about the room with it. To call my dog a little crazy is like calling me a little sarcastic. It's a bit of an understatement. I've given it a lot of thought, and I've decided that as a fan of the Twins I simply can't own a dog with an irrational fear of the best player on the team. So if anyone is in the market for a psychotic 3-year old male corgi with way too much energy and Mauer-related issues who occasionally responds to the name of Howie, let me know (Tigers fan maybe?).

Most Questionable Moment: The White Sox mascot, South Paw (or South Pan if you're Bert), does the can-can with a man dressed like a banana. For some reason that just seemed to sum up the White Sox season for me.

Worst Moment: Joe Nathan. Stressing me out again. You know, you don't have to let runners on base just for the hell of it.

Quotations of the Day:

• "I think we accomplished a couple things. We won our ballgames, and we also got a couple of guys hot so they can go play Detroit. I think Jermaine Dye, we put him on the right track. Now maybe he can go take care of the Motown boys." - Ron Gardenhire
• "This is the best baseball when you're playing baseball in September that means something. That's all it's about." - Nick Punto
• "This was a huge series for us. It's as close to a must-win situation as you can be in." - Michael Cuddyer

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Matt Tolbert (0 for 4, 7 left on base). Ah, yes, there's the Matt Tolbert I expect to see instead of this strange imposter who actually gets hits. The best thing he did all day was sac bunt to advance a runner. Other than that he reeled off a series of futile at bats which included: grounding out with a runner at 2nd and 2 outs, grounding into a fielder's choice with a runner at 1st and 2 outs, fouling out with the bases loaded and 1 out, and fouling out with a popped up bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs. Very impressive.