Twins put the ball in Blackburn’s hand for Game 2
If pitching in a Game 163 is like being the playoffs, maybe Twins righthander Nick Blackburn is one up on Yankees righthander A.J. Burnett. Blackburn has the benefit of pitching in a game with the season on the line, while Burnett will be pitching in a playoff game for the first time.
Game 163 last year ended in a 1-0 defeat at Chicago, but the Twins and Blackburn came away from that game believing that the 27-year-old righthander learned just how good he could be.
He’s also pitched well when the Twins needed him the most this season, going 3-2 with a 3.07 ERA in his past seven starts.
“Even in big games like that, I still go out there and stick to my game plan and see where it goes. I can’t say why I go out and have good games. Last year was still a loss in that game, so can’t look at it as a great game.”
Blackburn, on May 16, gave up four earned runs over 723 innings in a 6-4, 11-inning loss at Yankee Stadium. Mark Teixeira hit a three run homer off him in the third inning and is 6-for-6 against Blackburn with five RBI. Derek Jeter is 4-for-7 against Blackburn with three walks.
Blackburn must prove tonight that he won’t be affected by the atmosphere or the big moment. He needs to have his good sinking fastball and use all his other pitches, especially his curveball to lefthanded hitters.
“Yes, it’s definitely a tough lineup, you know,” he said. “but each guy has their own weakness. You just have to find a way to expose them.”
Click here to read the full article – By By La Velle E. Neal III of PostBulletin.com
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Alexi Casilla foresaw his big moment for the Twins
Bench player told teammate that he would be the hero
Unlikely heroes find their way into baseball lore because dubious circumstances tend to put them in the right place when opportunity knocks.
Reserve second baseman Alexi Casilla spent the 2009 season shuttling between Class AAA Rochester and Ron Gardenhire’s doghouse. So, of course, he would be the one to extend the Twins’ historic season into the playoffs.
During batting practice, Casilla told shortstop Orlando Cabrera he was going to win the game for Minnesota. It took more than five hours for him to make good on his pledge.
Casilla entered the game as a pinch runner in the 10th inning and stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 12th against Tigers flamethrower Fernando Rodney with Carlos Gomez at second and one out.
After taking a pitch, Casilla lashed a fastball into right field, scoring Gomez with the American League Central Division-winning run and touching off a wild celebration at the Metrodome.
“At the plate, I was trying to relax, take a pitch,” Casilla said. “He threw me a fastball. I swing, and it happened.”
Casilla took a long, potholed road to be recounting the biggest hit of his nascent career with a bottle of Budweiser in his hand and champagne dripping from his head.
He had not started a game since Sept. 11 and had only three at-bats since.
Click here to read the full article – By Brian Murphy of TwinCities.com
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Agent says Sano, Twins reach deal
The agent for Dominican shortstop Miguel Sano said the Minnesota Twins have agreed to sign his client for a bonus of $3.15 million.
Sano’s agent, Rob Plummer, said Tuesday that he expects an agreement to be signed this week.
”I’m very thankful to get this chance to sign with the Twins,” Sano said. ”I’m going to work very hard to try to get to the majors in two years.”
Twins General Manager Bill Smith declined comment.
Major League Baseball, as it does with many young Dominican players, investigated Sano’s age and identity earlier this year. His identity was verified, Plummer said, and the age investigation was inconclusive. Sano says he is 16 years old.
Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of Ohio.com
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Twins turn to Cuddyer at first base
Word spread quickly through the Minnesota clubhouse before Monday’s game against Cleveland that Justin Morneau would miss the remainder of the season with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Michael Cuddyer, filling in for Morneau at first and in the cleanup spot on Monday night, was among the players who had heard the news before game time. So what did Cuddyer do in place of the All-Star slugger? The new first baseman hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to tie the game, propelling Minnesota to a 6-3 comeback win.
For the rest of the season, much of the time at first base will continue to fall to Cuddyer, who has spent most of his career in right field but has played at almost every position.
Click here to read the full article – By Tyler Mason of MLB.com
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Twins kick White Sox when they’re down
With the Tigers and Twins pulling away in the AL Central race, the White Sox began cleaning house late Monday night, after their 4-1 loss to the Twins at the Metrodome.
About 90 minutes after the game, word came that the White Sox had traded Jim Thome to the Dodgers for minor league infielder Justin Fuller and Jose Contreras to the Rockies for minor league pitcher Brandon Hynick.
The Thome rumors had been swirling through the Twins clubhouse, as players celebrated their 10th victory in 13 games.
Nick Blackburn, who hadn’t won since the All-Star break, pitched seven strong innings, and the Twins used third-inning home runs from Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel to help pull within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Tigers. Meanwhile, Chicago remained six games back after falling to 1-7 on its 11-game road trip against the Red Sox, Yankees, Twins and Cubs.
Click here to read the full article – By JOE CHRISTENSEN of StarTribune.com
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Young’s walk-off lifts Twins to cardiac win
Minutes after scoring the winning run in the ninth inning Tuesday against Baltimore, Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer made a bold statement about teammate Delmon Young, who drove in Cuddyer in walk-off fashion.
“Obviously, since he’s been swinging great we’ve been playing better,” Cuddyer said. “I think that’s a direct correlation with wins and losses.”
Young’s hitting certainly had an impact Tuesday, as he capped a 4-for-5 night at the plate by recording the game-winning RBI off Baltimore’s Kam Mickolio. The Twins’ designated hitter was able to drive in Cuddyer from second with a full count and two outs.
Click here to read the full article – By Tyler Mason of MLB.com
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Morneau may return for homestand
The Twins are still hanging on in the American League Central — and they’ve done it the past six games without Justin Morneau.
Morneau is recovering from an inner ear infection and hasn’t played since Aug. 17. But how about this? The Twins are rolling without him, improving their record to 5-1 without Morneau after Sunday’s 10-3 win in Kansas City.
“Let’s trade him,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire joked. All kidding aside, Gardenhire got some good news this weekend when Morneau, who was at home in Minnesota, sent word that he was starting to feel better.
Click here to read the full article – By Rustin Dodd of MLB.com
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