In an absolute slug fest that started off with the Twins taking a three-run lead in the first quickly turned into what looked like a lopsided loss for the Twins. The Phillies matched the Twins three runs in the bottom half of the first then added four more in the second and another in the third.
When it seemed all was lost and the Twins were destined to lose the series in blowout fashion that scraped together five runs in the ninth to tie the game at nine. Drew Butera gave the Twins the lead in the tenth inning with his first career home run but the celebration was short lives as Ross Gload homered with two outs in the bottom of the tenth.
But in the eleventh the Twins would seal the deal scoring three runs thanks to an infield single by Delmon Young and a two-run scoring double by Matt Tolbert. Jon Rauch pitched two innings for the first time this year picking up the win and he also laid down a sacrifice in the eleventh that put the Twins in position to take the lead.
This marked the second time in two games a Twins starter lasted just an 1 and 2/3 innings. Slowey allowed seven runs on seven hits inflating his ERA to 4.58. On Friday Nick Blackburn gave up eight runs on six hits in his 1 and 2/3 innings.
There were nine home runs in today’s game including homers by Jim Thome (6), Joe Mauer (3), Justin Morneau (14), and Drew Butera (1).
Up Next: Carl Pavano (7-6, 3.92 ERA) takes the hill as the Twins looks to win the series with the Phillies at 12:10 PM but will face the daunting task of doing so against Roy Halladay (8-5, 2.36 ERA).
The Good:
Justin Morneau: Morneau has been on an absolute tear this season and even more so in the month of May: .400 AVG/ 6 HR/ 19 RBI .496 OBP. Morneau currently leads the league in hitting with a .377 AVG overall.
Denard Span: Span didn’t get off to the start most had hoped for but he has been turning it on as of late with a .353 AVG in May with 10 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Span was hitting just .211 in April with 9 RBI and 6 stolen bases. He also improved his on base percentage to .403 from .339 in April.
Nick Blackburn: After a brutal start in April (1-1 with a 6.85 ERA) he has been on fire in the month of May going 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA.
Team batting AVG: .283 – 4th in MLB
63 doubles – T-1st in MLB
12 Errors – Fewest in MLB
16-12 in May with a current five game win streak
15 wins by starters
The Bad:
Joe Mauer – Mauer is hitting “just” .293 in May with 1 HR and 11 RBI versus .414 in May of ’09 with 11 HR and 32 RBI.
Jim Thome – .217 AVG in May with just 7 RBI and 1 HR. Although he lacks the plate appearances and opportunities he is still disappointing so far this year in the power and run production.
Francisco Liriano – Liriano was the AL Pitcher of the Month in April going 3-0 with a microscopic .93 ERA in April but is 2-3 with a 5.15 ERA in May.
Jon Rauch – 7-for-8 saves with a 4.09 ERA in May vs. 1.80 ERA in April going 6-for-7 in saves. Rauch was fantastic in April but the saves have gotten a little more nerve racking ever since.
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Morneau out for season with a stress fracture in his lower back.
The Minnesota Twins may have just received the final nail in the coffin. Already struggling to make up any ground in the AL Central the Twins learned their All-Star, MVP, Derby winning first baseman, Justin Morneau, would be lost for the rest of the season. MRI results initially showed inflammation in his back but the recent CT scan showed he has a stress fracture in his lower back. The good news is that the injury should heal itself and will not require surgery. Morneau was struggling in September carrying just an .077 average but surely this irritation was at least partly to blame.
The Twins rallied last night without Morneau thanks to pinch-hit 3-run homer from Jason Kubel to beat the Indians 6-3. The Twins stand 5.5 games back from the Detroit Tigers as Scott Baker will take on Fausto Carmona and the Cleveland Indians. The Twins have host the Tigers this weekend for a three game series and then travel for another three game series in Detroit beginning September 28th.
Justin Morneau will return to the Twins lineup tonight to face righty Chris Tillman and the Baltimore Orioles. Morneau missed six games battling an ear infection that was causing dizziness. The Twins look to keep their three game winning streak alive tonight against the Orioles at Dome.
UPDATE: Morneau went 0-for-2 with two walks in his return to the lineup.
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