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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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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