Date: 7/8/10

Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays

Home/Away: Away

Starting Pitcher: Baker

Final Score: L 7-1

Record: 45-40

Recap: Here's the lesson we learned tonight kids: starting pitcher with strong fly ball tendencies plus top home-run hitting team in the league equals a bad game for the Twins. Yesterday's game we at least had a chance, but today was just a blowout. And a blowout that looked like the Home Run Derby. Lovely. We play better against our own division, so perhaps we have a chance at least of ending the first part of the season well. But I'm not holding my breath.

The game really sucked. Baker gave up 5 runs in the first 2 innings on 7 hits, 2 of them home runs. He settled down after that and pitched through the 6th inning, but when you're down by 5 runs almost immediately, it doesn't really matter. Apparently he has a tender elbow. Just fabulous. The bullpen continued to struggle, and Burnett gave up 2 more home runs, while Mahay gave up another. All 5 of the Blue Jays' homers were solo home runs. The offense of course didn't do much to help. We grounded into 2 double plays (surprise, surprise), while accumulating a paltry 5 hits. Cuddyer did have a home run to give the Twins their only run of the game. Hardy had 2 hits including a double, and Skinny Delmon also had a double. Morneau had a mild concussion from yesterday's collision and was held out of the lineup.

Basically we look pretty pathetic right now. We're certainly capable of winning the division, but at some point we need to pitch better and string some wins together or we could just as easily finish third. Maybe the All-Star Break will do us some good. I will be in South Dakota this weekend, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to post anything. It'll depend on whether I'm able to listen to or watch the games while I'm there or if I'll have to wait until I'm home. 

Best Moment: At least the game was over quickly...

Most Questionable Moment: The play at 1st base where Repko was ruled out and was clearly safe. It would have at least been another run for us.

Worst Moment: Oh, I'd say the 5 home runs.

Quotations of the Day:

• "We know they are a home run hitting team, and you have to make pitches. We didn't make very many of them tonight. It ended up being a long night out there with not a lot of offense going on and being deep in a hole." - Ron Gardenhire
• "Today we got hammered. We just have to do better than that. Now we have to go into Detroit against a team that's been playing very good and Verlander tomorrow. We'll see what we're made of over the weekend." - Ron Gardenhire

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Alex Burnett (1.0 innings pitched, 2 hits, 2 home runs, 2 earned runs)