Date: 6/23/10

Opponent: Milwaukee Brewers

Home/Away: Away

Starting Pitcher: Liriano

Final Score: L 5-3

Record: 40-31

Recap: What a bummer. I can't say I had high hopes for the game, but I did have hopes. Mainly hopes that we would actually win. No such luck. It was just one of those mistake-filled games where every little thing came back to haunt us. Not to mention our numerous strikeouts with runners in scoring position. At least the Tigers lost; let's look on the bright side (not the easiest thing for me to do). 

Liriano was neither great nor terrible. He was taken out after the 5th inning, but that was mostly due to his spot in the batting order coming up in the top of the 6th with 2 runners on. He only had 77 pitches at that point and 3 earned runs. I also felt like he (and all the pitchers) got let down by the defense a little. His first run came in the 3rd inning when he walked Weeks with 1 out. Corey Hart then doubled down the left field line, past Cuddyer at 3rd, while Skinny Delmon flailed about in left field. Young was given an error on the play as Hart made it to 3rd base, but I don't think he would have had a play on Weeks at home regardless.

The Twins loaded the bases with 1 out in the next inning on a couple of singles and a walk. Skinny Delmon singled to score 2, putting the Twins temporarily on top. But then Milwaukee came right back, and again defense came into play. Gomez bunted with 1 out in the bottom of the 4th. Now, he played for our team last year. I'm pretty sure everyone knows how fast he is. Yet when the next batter hit a ball to short, Punto decided to throw to 2nd instead of 1st. I'm not sure if he thought he could get a double play, or if he just didn't think he could get the runner at 1st, but it just seemed like a really bad idea to me. The end result was that Gomez was safe at 2nd on a close play and the relay to 1st wasn't in time. So two were on base still with 1 out instead of having one on and 2 outs. Another single loaded the bases, then the next batter popped out before a single scored 2 runs to put the Brewers back in front. I just feel like we could have prevented at least 1 run in that inning.

We had a chance in the top of the 6th. Several chances actually. Kubel doubled with 1 out and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, but the Twins put a contact play on with Young at the plate, and Kubel ended up getting thrown out at home on a grounder to 3rd. Then Punto walked to put 2 runners on, at which point Thome pinch-hit for Liriano and struck out. Again in the 7th we had our chances after a couple of 2-out singles, but Cuddyer struck out. 

Bad defense struck again to the Twins' detriment in the bottom of the 7th. Duensing was pitching and walked the first batter. The Weeks hit a double play ball to 2nd, but Hudson flipped somewhat wildly to Punto covering 2nd. They got the out at 2nd, but Punto's throw to 1st sailed past Morneau, and then hit the runner and bounced into right, allowing the runner to go to 2nd. The bases were then loaded with an intentional walk and a hit by pitch. Burnett came on to relieve Duensing, and again a double play ball was hit, this time to 3rd base. Cuddyer threw to Hudson at 2nd and got the first out, but Hudson double clutched and the throw to 1st was late. A run scored on the play, giving the Brewer's a 2-run lead. 

Skinny Delmon singled in the 8th, but he was later thrown out with 2 outs and Tolbert batting in the pitcher's spot on a stolen base attempt. Gardy seemed pretty pissed about that in his post-game press conference as Young tried to steal on his own initiative and thus cost the Twins the opportunity to start the 9th inning with the top of their order. In the bottom of the inning the Brewers scored again on a single hit right past Cuddyer. And I mean right past him. I'm not really loving the Cuddyer at 3rd redux. He's not gouge-your-eyes-out awful, but I think his defense is a little suspect.

While the Twins added a run on a Mauer double in the 9th, Morneau struck out for the final out. Mauer and Morneau each had 3 hits in the game, and Kubel had 2, but it just didn't work out today. I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow, but we've pulled out unlikely wins before, so I'm trying to stay somewhat positive. Blackburn is pitching, and we all should be praying that this time he gets through the 2nd inning, preferably without allowing 8 runs this time.

Best Moment: I guess we'll go with Skinny Delmon's single which gave us our only lead.

Most Questionable Moment: Only having 2 errors in the game. It seemed like we made a lot more mistakes than that.

Worst Moment: Every time the Brewers scored.

Quotations of the Day:

• "Disappointing night for us. We had some opportunities...but I think we gave them some, a failure to turn some double plays in some key situations and some shaky baserunning." - Ron Gardenhire
• "We just did not play good defensively tonight." - Ron Gardenhire
• "Beth taught me tonight the difference between a sausage fest and a sausage race." - A friend of mine.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Orlando Hudson (0 for 5, 2 strikeouts, 2 left on base, some bad defensive plays).