(via Fangraphs)
Mark Brrrrle was perfect through 5.2 innings, and set a new major-league record by retiring 45 batters in a row. Then Alexi Casilla (of all people) decided to go and spoil the party by drawing a walk. Issuing a free pass to a guy who's drawn a whopping 15 walks in 166 plate appearances must've really annoyed Brrrrle, since he then found it difficult to get out of the inning. Denard Span singled to break up the no-hitter, Joe Mauer hit a ground-rule double to spoil the shutout bid, then Brrrrle finally got Morneau to ground out and end the inning. Really though, does anyone expect a no-hitter, let alone a perfect game, with Joe Mauer in the lineup? A guy batting .358/.427/.593 doesn't have many 0-fers, just ask Gavin Floyd. The Twins tagged Brrrrle for four more runs on three hits in the seventh, and he was yanked in favor of Octavio Dotel after retiring only one more batter. So Mark Buehrle gets to go down in history for a second straight start, but the Twins ruin it all by winning the game. All in all, it was a pretty good night.
Scott Baker also pitched a good game, though he was obviously overshadowed by the epic performance of his opponent. Scotty wasn't perfect or even terribly efficient, needing 120 pitches to complete six innings, but he allowed only one run (a solo homer to Jermaine Dye) on four hits and struck out six. Bobby Keppel nearly effed things up in the ninth, when the Pale Hosers scored a pair of runs on a walk and two straight two-out hits, but Joe Nathan was brought in to retire Dewayne Wise for the final out. Joe Nathan doesn't put up with any of this run-scoring nonsense, so there's really no reason to let anyone else come in to pitch the ninth. Ever. Even if the Twins are already up by ten runs.
My favorite part of the game (besides the outcome) was the requisite whining by the White Sox about the mystical powers of the Metrodome. Cue the saddest music in the world:
“I’m not a big fan of broken-bat, bloop singles,” Buehrle said. “It just seems like any time at this place you just know it’s going to happen. You could be up 10-0 in the ninth inning and something’s going to happen in that inning.”
Except there was nothing bloop or broken-bat about any of the singles the Twins got off of Brrrrle. Span, Harris, and Punto all had solid base hits (and it isn't very often that you can say Nick Punto had a solid base hit). Maybe Posednik should have caught Mauer's double, but that was a tough play so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt (plus I'm horribly biased). Unlike the night before, the Twins simply beat Brrrle and the White Sox, and it's too bad he just can't admit it.
Scott Baker also pitched a good game, though he was obviously overshadowed by the epic performance of his opponent. Scotty wasn't perfect or even terribly efficient, needing 120 pitches to complete six innings, but he allowed only one run (a solo homer to Jermaine Dye) on four hits and struck out six. Bobby Keppel nearly effed things up in the ninth, when the Pale Hosers scored a pair of runs on a walk and two straight two-out hits, but Joe Nathan was brought in to retire Dewayne Wise for the final out. Joe Nathan doesn't put up with any of this run-scoring nonsense, so there's really no reason to let anyone else come in to pitch the ninth. Ever. Even if the Twins are already up by ten runs.
My favorite part of the game (besides the outcome) was the requisite whining by the White Sox about the mystical powers of the Metrodome. Cue the saddest music in the world:
“I’m not a big fan of broken-bat, bloop singles,” Buehrle said. “It just seems like any time at this place you just know it’s going to happen. You could be up 10-0 in the ninth inning and something’s going to happen in that inning.”
Except there was nothing bloop or broken-bat about any of the singles the Twins got off of Brrrrle. Span, Harris, and Punto all had solid base hits (and it isn't very often that you can say Nick Punto had a solid base hit). Maybe Posednik should have caught Mauer's double, but that was a tough play so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt (plus I'm horribly biased). Unlike the night before, the Twins simply beat Brrrle and the White Sox, and it's too bad he just can't admit it.
3 comments:
Ha, Erin I saw on ESPN that Buehrle was perfect through 5 and set the major league record 45 batters straight set down. Haha, that is too funny that the Twins tagged him for 5 earned. Check me out :)
Sour grapes, plain and simple. The Twins spoiled the party. Nice win for your guys.
Jane,
I sort of understand how the Pale Hosers feel, since the Twins seem to have the same rotten luck in Yankee stadium. I don't blame the Stadium itself for their woes, though, and neither do the Twins'players. I blame the fact that they always seem to play like little leaguers against the Yanks. Still, I have to wonder what excuse the Sox are going to use when the Twins start beating them at Target Field.
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