Date: 6/11/10

Opponent: Atlanta Braves

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Liriano

Final Score: W 2-1

Record: 36-25

Recap: That game couldn't have been more different than yesterday's game, and I think we can all be very very thankful for that. Both pitchers had great games, but Liriano came out on top, in part due to his 11 strikeouts. He had 7 strikeouts in a row, tying a team record. It was pretty awesome to watch. I have to admit I was a little depressed when David Ross put a ball into play to end the streak. But it was still a phenomenal performance. He went 8 innings with 5 hits, no walks, and 11 strikeouts. His only run came in the 2nd inning after a couple of singles led off an inning. The runners were bunted over and then the run scored on a ground out. 

I was a little afraid we were never going to score with the way Hudson was shutting us down. He was almost as good as Liriano, (also 8 innings, but with only 2 strikeouts and 2 runs). I wasn't really concerned until I realized all of the sudden that it was the top of the 7th inning. The game absolutely flew by with the dominant pitching. I just didn't want Liriano to pitch so well and end up with a loss. Fortunately we managed to sneak a few runs across in the 7th. We finally got a runner on base to lead off an inning after Mauer reached on an infield single to 2nd. Morneau followed with a single to right, before Cuddyer hit a little Baltimore chop and reached to load the bases. Up came Jim Thome, who had great numbers against Hudson coming into the game. Unfortunately he quickly fell behind in the count and struck out. Kubel was up next, and he hit a single to score Mauer and tie the game. Gardenhire wisely brought in Skinny Delmon to pinch-hit for Valencia. He also singled and Morneau scored the go-ahead run. It was all the offense the Twins would need.

Liriano pitched the top of the 8th. Giant Man came in for the save in the 9th. Apparently Liriano's performance rubbed off on him, because he fanned all 3 batters he faced and earned his 16th save. It was definitely a good start to the series, and hopefully we keep it going tomorrow. And I have to mention this, when Melky Cabrera hit a line drive to right and attempted to stretch it into a double, Dick went on and on about how silly it was to run on Cuddyer's arm. All I could think was that the Braves were surely aware of how he'd struggled to play balls off the wall out there.

Best Moment: The 7 consecutive strikeouts.

Most Questionable Moment: I like Trevor Plouffe, and I know this isn't his fault, but I don't particularly want him batting second any more than I want Matt Tolbert there. Honestly, we don't have to have a middle infielder there. We don't!

Worst Moment: The end of the consecutive strikeout streak. 

Quotations of the Day:

• "I just go hitter by hitter. I didn't realize that." - Liriano, saying he didn't know he was on a streak of 7 strikeouts.
• "Liriano was as good as advertised." - Chipper Jones
• "It means a lot to me. I had a tough year last year, so I'm just trying to get better every day, game-by-game." - Francisco Liriano
• "It would have sucked if he had pitched that well and we didn't win." - Jason Kubel. Well said Kubel!
• "Liriano was outstanding. It was great to watch, to be honest with you. Two outstanding pitchers going at it." - Bobby Cox

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Denard Span (0 for 4, 4 left on base). Sorry Span. I guess that ability to hit well at Target Field was done in by Tim Hudson. Plouffe also went 0 for 4, but he didn't leave any runners on base.