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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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October 9, 2009 Posted by rsanrel | MLB, Minnesota Twins, Nick BLackburn, Twins Apparel, Twins News, Twins Stuff | Baseball, Minnesota, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Twins Apparel, Minnesota Twins Baseball, Minnesota Twins Jackets, Minnesota Twins Mens Apparel, minnestoa, MLB, Nick BLackburn, Twins, Twins Apparel, Twins Baseball, Twins News | No Comments Yet

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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October 7, 2009 Posted by rsanrel | Alexi Casilla, MLB, Minnesota Twins, Twins Apparel, Twins News, Twins Stuff | Alexi Casilla, Baseball, Minnesota, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Twins Apparel, Minnesota Twins Baseball, Minnesota Twins Mens Apparel, MLB, Twins, Twins Apparel, Twins Baseball | No Comments Yet

For Minnesota Twins, there’s no place like Dome

History on Minnesota’s side as Tigers head to Dome for Game 163

It may last just one more game, but historians caution that you shouldn’t rule out another month.

“The place doesn’t want to go away quietly yet,” said Jason Kubel , whose two three-run home runs sent the Minnesota Twins into a one-game playoff against the Tigers for the American League Central title.

He was speaking of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It will be the site of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. game, after Brett Favre and the Vikings face the Packers there on Monday night. If the Twins can get their 87th win — yes, Ozzie Guillen, that’s all it would have taken to defend the Central title — they’ll get a chance to slay the Yankees, the unquestioned No. 1 seed in baseball’s October tournament.

On paper, there’s no way the Twins or the Tigers can match up to the 103-win Yankees. But you know Joe Girardi and the Yankees will be rooting for the Tigers on Tuesday, and not just because the Tigers failed to protect a seven-game lead with 26 games to play. No visiting team ever wants to play high-stakes games in the white bubble that has been the Twins’ home since 1982.

Click here to read the full article – By Phil Rogers of Chicagotribune.com

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