Date: 7/17/10

Opponent: Chicago White Sox

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Pavano

Final Score: W 3-2

Record: 48-43

Recap: Thank God for Carl Pavano. He's really been the rock of our rotation, and we would be in bad shape without him. What a performance though! I'm actually quite surprised Gardy kept him in for the 9th inning, especially after the lead-off double. I suppose the way Rauch struggled on Friday may have factored into the decision. It turned out quite well though.

On the other side, Buehrle was almost as good, and just as efficient. Both starters pitched complete games, neither issued a walk, and both worked very quickly. The entire game clocked in at under 2 hours, and really it couldn't have ended soon enough with a gigantic storm ready to hit at any moment. The White Sox took a 1-run lead in the 1st inning, but the Twins strung 3 consecutive hits together in the 2nd inning to get the lead and all the offense they would need. Cuddyer doubled down the right field line on a ball that was just barely fair and bounced into the stands. Skinny Delmon singled to tie the game at 1 (of course he did; Skinny Delmon is awesome). Kubel then tripled (!) to give the Twins a 1-run lead. We had just been discussing how Cuddyer is faster than he looks, while Thome and Kubel are just as fast as they appear (which is to say, slow). Then of course Kubel would triple to show off his mad speed. Anyway, Valencia doubled to score the third run of the inning. And that was it. Konerko hit a homer in the 4th inning to make it a 1-run game, and that was the last of the scoring. 

So the 9th inning was a little scary with the double by Vizquel to lead off the inning. The pinch-runner advanced to 3rd on a ground out, leaving the tying run at 3rd with only 1 out. But Pavano twirled his mustache with maniacal flare and coolly struck out Konerko before getting Quentin to ground out to end the game. Amazing. More and more Twins players are experimenting with mustaches as the Pavstache legend grows. Quite frankly if the Twins get some team chemistry going by growing atrocious facial hair that makes them resemble classic video game characters, then I'm all for it. Anything that helps us win is good in my book. I mean, how ridiculous do they all look? I can only hope for some seriously bushy muttonchops in someone's future (I vote Skinny Delmon, or maybe Duensing).

Best Moment: Pavano's complete game. 

Most Questionable Moment: Me getting my friends to lock me in my car trunk. I've decided that I could comfortably live in my car should my life deteriorate to that point. I think it's always good to have back-up plans. We also fit 3 of us in the trunk with it closed should I ever have to dispose of several bodies.

Worst Moment: Pavano getting hit on the wrist by a pitch. That would be just perfect if he were injured. But he quickly waved everyone off and got back to pitching.

Quotations of the Day:

• "It was a huge performance for us. Everything seems to go well when a starting pitcher does things like that." - Ron Gardenhire
• "I think early on I was trying to find it a little bit. Once I got into a groove and we started scoring runs, I started getting the ball where I needed it to go and I started to pick up the pace a little bit." Carl Pavano
• "We were both excited. Complete game, and why not? What better way to show love than a little mustache hug, right?" - Drew Butera, who is also (attempting) to grow a mustache in Pavano's honor. I think what the world needs right now is more mustache hugs. It sounds so heartwarming and '80s. And maybe a little (okay, a lot) like something in a gay porn film. But I'll just stop there.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: J.J. Hardy (0 for 3, 1 strikeout, 1 left on base)