Date: 7/2/10

Opponent: Tampa Bay Rays

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Baker

Final Score: W 2-1

Record: 44-36

Recap: Wow. What a great game. Both starters had great games, but the Twins managed to group their hits together to get the lead. Baker gave up a lot more hits than David Price, but Baker spread them out and controlled the damage, giving up just 1 run in the 1st inning before keeping the Rays in check for the next 6 innings. Price, on the other hand, went 8 innings and didn't give up a hit until the 5th inning. He only gave up 4 hits total, but 3 of them came consecutively in the 7th inning, and that was the difference in the game. You have to tip your hat to a performance like that, but boy am I glad we won.

We had a few scoring opportunities early, mostly thanks to a few walks. There were some great defensive plays by the Rays in the 3rd inning, too. Valencia walked to lead off the inning, and Punto followed with a fielder's choice that didn't result in an out after the umpire ruled that Brignac pulled his foot off 2nd base too soon. Span bunted to advance the runners, but Hudson hit a sharp grounder to Brignac, who made a great throw home to get Valencia at theh plate. Mauer stepped up to the plate and had a likely double taken away from him with runners on base on a great leaping catch by Zobrist.

Finally Valencia singled in the 5th inning to break up the no-hitter, but nothing came of it. Then in the 7th, with 2 outs, Kubel singled. Up came Skinny Delmon, the new and improved version of Delmon Young. He drove a double to center, and Kubel started running. My brother moaned, "Why didn't we pinch run for him?" I started yelling, "Don't send him! Don't send him!" as Kubel rounded 3rd (it seems to me Kubel gets thrown out at the plate a lot). Of course Ullger did send Kubel, and a bad throw insured that he scored. Skinny Delmon advanced to 3rd on the throw. Valencia had another hit, this time the eventual game-winner.

At this point the bullpen took over. They certainly had a few nerve-wracking moments, but we got through the 8th while maintaining the lead. Rauch came on for the 2nd night in a row with a 1-run lead. Again he got 2 quick outs before giving up a single. But this time he walked the next batter, then allowed the runners to advance on a wild pitch (we had 3 wild pitches in this game; what's up with that?). But a ground out followed, and another close game was at an end. Now I get to see if the Twins can win the next 2 while I'm at the games and cinch the series. 

Best Moment: Getting the lead in the 7th inning.

Most Questionable Moment: Not pinch-running for Kubel. Haha. Hindsight is 20/20, right?

Worst Moment: Getting 1-hit through 6th innings.

Quotations of the Day:

• "I think you saw one of the best pitchers in our league tonight dominating and throwing as good of a fastball and breaking ball as you'll see from a pitcher. He was dominating. He wasn't making it easy on us. To come out and find a way and hold them like we did is a huge win for us after last night's tough loss." - Ron Gardenhire
• "We knew he was going to be extremely tough tonight but we have a good team. We have a good offense." - Scott Baker

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Justin Morneau (0 for 4, 2 strikeouts, 1 GIDP, 3 left on base)