Date: 9/5/10

Opponent: Texas Rangers

Home/Away: Home

Starting Pitcher: Blackburn

Final Score: 6-5

Record: 80-57

Recap: I'm really not happy with how that game ended. Yes, I'm happy that we won and swept the Rangers, but it feels wrong to have won on a technicality. Coach's interference was called, but I'm not totally sure they actually touched. Even if they did touch, it doesn't seem like the 3rd base coach assisted in any way, which is what the rule says is not allowed (not that they are automatically out for making contact). I would rather have won in a more conventional manner I guess. If Young hadn't been ruled out, it would have been a 1-run game with the bases loaded and 2 outs. We still might have won; we could have seen if the bullpen would have worked its way out of the huge mess it created.

Before the 9th inning, the Twins were cruising along. We didn't have a lot of hits, but we managed 6 runs thanks to a couple of sacrifice flies, a walk and a few key hits. Blackburn started after having been pushed back because of Thursday's disastrous game, and he delivered a very nice performance, with 2 runs over 7 innings. Unfortunately things went downhill quickly in the 9th inning. Jon Rauch, who pitched a scoreless 8th, allowed a single before striking out the next 2 batters. Okay, we just needed 1 more out. No problem, right? But Rauch then gave up a double to Borbon that scored a run and cut the lead to 3. Matt Capps came in to relieve Rauch and shut down the Rangers, but he couldn't seem to buy an out. Guzman singled to score Borbon, and the lead was down to 2 runs. Then Michael Young singled, and David Murphy walked to load the bases. Guerrero stepped to the plate and hit a ball up the middle. Hudson managed to flag it down deep in the hole, but Guerrero was already at 1st and a run had scored. Meanwhile, Young had taken a turn toward home thinking that the ball was going to get through the infield. Hudson saw this and threw toward 3rd as the Rangers 3rd base coach frantically waved Young back to 3rd. At this point, there was maybe some slight contact between their hands. I think the replays were inconclusive. Hudson's throw was not in time, but the umpire ruled Young out because of interference. And Matt Capps got a save despite allowing all 4 batters he saw to reach base. Weird.

On a more positive note, the Twins had a Legends Game before the game, which was pretty hilarious. Hrbek made a giant divot in foul territory on a failed attempt to make a sliding catch, while Bert threw behind Ron Washington in an attempt to get thrown out of the game. It was pretty funny to see Ron Washington playing actually. The Rangers seemed pretty amused to see him in the game. Anyway, it looked like they were all having fun. I would have liked to have been able to see it in person!

Best Moment: The Legends Game.

Most Questionable Moment: The 3rd base umpire ruling coach's interference.

Worst Moment: Matt Capps' brilliant save.

Quotations of the Day:

• "They made contact at third base. That's automatic. The umpire has to make a call. If there is contact, he's got to make a call. That's what he did. And they made contact. Unfortunate, yes. It probably didn't help him stop or get back, but contact is contact. And that's what Alfonso called." - Ron Gardenhire. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's not automatic just to make contact, and I don't think there was even for sure contact made.
• "It never happened." - Ron Washington, on the possible contact between Young and the 3rd base coach.
• "Bad call. A bad call by a good umpire." - Michael Young

Suck-Ass Performance of the Game: Matt Capps (0.1 innings pitched, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned run)