Date: 8/20-21/10

Opponent: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Duensing and Slowey

Final Score: W 7-2 and L 9-3

Record: 71-52

Recap: It was the best of games (on Friday); it was the worst of games (on Saturday). And of course I was at the suckier of the two games. Just my luck. Brian Duensing is proving to be quite the asset as a starting pitcher. He hasn't lost since he entered the rotation, and he's been outstanding. Friday was no different, as he pitched 8 innings with just 1 earned run. He kept the ball down and induced ground ball after ground ball. Unfortunately he has been the island of good pitching amongst the sea of suck produced by the starters this last time through the rotation. Slowey didn't help much on Saturday, as he struggled through a 4-run 2nd inning. And now he's going on the DL. Just fabulous. Brace yourself for more Blackburn...

On Friday the offense backed up Duensing with a lot of support. Kubel had the biggest hit, a 3-run homer after the Angels chose to intentionally walk Mauer with 2 outs. Thome may have had the most interesting when he tripled for the second time this season. Quite remarkable. The Twins were also aided by a bit of a Dome flashback when the Angels right fielder lost a ball in the sky that fell for a hit.

The offense gave Slowey an early lead on Saturday, but he gave it right back during the top of the next inning. After that they were completely shut down, while the bullpen bled like a hemophiliac. Cuddyer had a 2-run single, and Skinny Delmon also singled in a run, but that was about the extent of the positives for the Twins. We still can take the series with a win tomorrow, so let's hope that works out. My sister and I are heading down to Texas this week, and we're going to a couple of the games there. I should have internet access, and hopefully I can stay on top of things.  

Best Moment: Thome's triple. And Brian Duensing asking if they wanted him to go out for the 9th inning. Way to show some initiative. As for Saturday's game, well, I did witness the cutest rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in history.

Most Questionable Moment: Mahay injured himself fielding a ground ball. Which leaves us with Perkins as our situational lefty? Hell, our only lefty reliever. Left-handers: stop injuring yourselves! And also Kubel being thrown out at home. That was a close play. I vote he was safe. Can we turn this into a democracy?

Worst Moment: All the injuries to our pitchers. Before you know it we're going to be trying to acquire Juan Rincon again (no one panic; I'm mostly kidding).

Quotations of the Day:

• "It was one of those days where the game just went nowhere." - Ron Gardenhire. I would say it went somewhere. Right down the drain.

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Michael Cuddyer (0 for 4, 2 left on base) and Kevin Slowey (3.0 innings pitched, 7 hits, 2 walks, 2 home runs, 4 earned runs, 1 loss)