Minnesota Twins Tied in First! Battle with the Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins are tied in first place with a 63-49 record after the Baltimore Orioles walk-off victory last night against Chicago. With 50 games to go the two teams are deadlocked right now (another Game 163 perhaps??). The two teams start a 3 game series tonight in Chicago that seems a little bit like playoff baseball. Even without first baseman Justin Morneau, the Twins have been playing good fundamental baseball and are looking to gain some ground in the division. Starting pitcher Kevin Slowey will miss his scheduled start on Wednesday and the Twins plan to start Glen Perkins from AAA. It is a big series and hopefully the Minnesota Twins can take the series. Scott Baker will take the mound tonight vs. Freddy Garcia. Go Twins!

Minnesota Twins Take 2 Out of 3 at Cleveland Indians

After dropping the first game in the series 7-6, the Minnesota Twins won the final two games and took the series. On Friday night, Matt LaPorta hit a walk off home run off of Matt Guerrier in the bottom of the 9th inning after the Twins rallied to tie the game 6-6. Alexi Casilla had 4 rbi's including a clutch 2 rbi hit in the top of the 9th. There was a little bit of drama about Jim Thome's disallowed homer in the 9th, that was ultimately ruled a double.

On Saturday, Carl Pavano pitched out of some jams and claimed his 14th victory of the season with a 7-2 win. He limited his former team to two runs over seven innings. Joe Mauer went 4-5, Jason Kubel went 2-3 with a home run, and Michael Cuddyer went 3-5. The Twins wore the St. Paul Gophers throwback uniforms from 1909.

On Sunday, Brian Duensing settled down after a rough first inning and held the Indians to 4 runs over 7 and 1/3 innings. Matt Guerrier and Matt Capps finished off the game. A 5 run 5th inning was key for the Minnesota Twins, including a Jim Thome home run. Now, the Minnesota Twins are 1/2 game back in the AL Central behind the Chicago White Sox and travel to Chicago for a 3 game series.

Minnesota Twins Split with Tampa Bay Rays

After dropping the first 2 games of the series, the Minnesota Twins salvaged a split with the one of the Major League's best team in the Tampa Bay Rays. Both victories were filled with drama and spectacular starts from their starting pitchers. On Wednesday night, Scott Baker pitched 8 scoreless innings and the Minnesota Twins won 2-1 in 13 quick innings. The score was 1-0 heading into the 9th when Minnesota closer Matt Capps unfortunately blew a save (although there was a botched play that led to a leadoff double). However, the Twins recovered and were able to get a Delmon Young single to take the lead in the top of the 13th.

On Thursday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins were cruising to a 6-0 lead going into the 8th inning after a wonderful start by Kevin Slowey. After a pinch hit Jason Bartlett (ex-Twin) grand slam to tie it 6-6 in the bottom of the 8th, the Twins could have easily just let one get away. However, again they battled back and got a little bit of luck to say the least. Jason Kubel hit the "catwalk" on top of the roof at Tropicana Field and allowed a routine popup to fall short of the pitcher's mound. This allowed the runner on 3rd to score. Michael Cuddyer followed up with a single and made it 8-6. Matt Capps came in for the save and closed the door. The Minnesota Twins will travel to the Cleveland Indians for a 3 game series.

Minnesota Twins Drop First 2 to Tampa Bay Rays

The Minnesota Twins have lost the first two games in a four game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. On Monday night, the Minnesota Twins were defeated 4-2 and on Tuesday night they were defeated 6-4. Carl Pavano was responsible for the loss in the first game and Matt Guerrier recorded the loss in the second game. Scott Baker will pitch tonight and face off against David Price who is 14-5 on the year. After tomorrow's final game of the series the Twins will travel to Cleveland to take on the Cleveland Indians.

Streak Reaches 8 In a Row!

The Minnesota Twins have now won 8 in a row heading into a 4 game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 8 game streak consists of defeating the Baltimore Orioles (2 times), Kansas City Royals (3 times), and the Seattle Mariners (3 times). Since the All-Star break they are 12-4 and have put themselves at a season high 13 games above .500 at 59-46. The Minnesota Twins are playing great baseball and are in a tight race with the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central, trailing by .5 games. The rotation has been fantastic during the streak including Francisco Liriano's current 21 scoreless inning streak. The Minnesota Twins are peaking at the right time and hope it can continue for the 10 game road trip.

Cranking Runs in Kansas City & Welcome Danny Valencia

The Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 19-1 and 11-2 on consecutive nights in Kansas City. They have an amazing 39 hits in their first 2 games of the series. They've played just about as complete as a baseball team can with good pitching, great hitting, and good defense. Watching the games, I think Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City had just as many Twins fans as Royal fans. To purchase any upcoming Minnesota Twins tickets check out Ticket King!

It's hard to mention all the stars over the first 2 games but rookie Danny Valenica has 14 hits in his last 19 at bats in his last 4 games. Jason Repko has filled in nicely as well, making a spectacular catch on Monday night. Here are some of the other highlights:

-Joe Mauer went 5-5 with 7 rbi's on Monday, followed by 2-4 with 2 rbi on Tuesday. Yikes.

-Delmon Young went 4-6 on Monday and 2-4 on Tuesday.

-Francisco Liriano pitched 7 scoreless innings only allowing 3 hits on Monday

-Carl Pavano earned his 13th win on Tuesday, with 5 innings and surrendering 1 run

-Alexi Casilla was 2-4 with 3 rbi on Monday

Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles Recap, Carl Pavano, & Delmon Young

The Minnesota Twins took 3 of 4 against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards over the weekend. In a hot and humid environment, the Minnesota Twins were able to nearly sweep the Orioles if not for a 3-2 loss on Friday night. They now sit 1 game back from the Chicago White Sox and visit Kansas City for a 3 game series. Here are some notes from the series:

-Delmon Young went 8/17 with 7 rbi. His stat line is now .322, 13 home runs, and 74 rbi. Talk about a turn around.

-Carl Pavano pitched a complete game 5-0 shutout on Thursday. He's 12-6 with 5 complete games. Talk about a steal over the offseason, Bill Smith looks pretty good on that one.

-Jason Kubel hit another grand slam and Denard Span made another incredible catch

-Orlando Hudson went to the DL because of an oblique strain, Jose Morales was recalled from AAA, and Justin Morneau is still out

Nick Blackburn to Bullpen, Anthony Slama recalled from AAA

The Minnesota Twins made some changes to their pitching staff. Starting pitcher Nick Blackburn was swapped with left-handed reliever Brian Duensing and Anthony Slama was recalled from AAA to replace Alex Burnett. Nick Blackburn has struggled since going 5-0 in May. He has lost 7 of his last 9 decisions and his ERA is 6.53. He has allowed 11 home runs in 41 innings since June 1 with a 9.88 ERA. Brian Duensing will have his first start on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. Anthony Slama debuted yesterday against the Cleveland Indians, throwing 1 inning with 2 strikeouts and a hit.

Minnesota Twins Recap of White Sox and Indians Series

The Minnesota Twins took 3 of 4 games against the Chicago White Sox and 1 of 3 against the Cleveland Indians. After losing a close 8-7 contest to start the series against the Chicago White Sox, the Minnesota Twins rebounded and won the next 3 including a dramatic walk off win on Sunday. However, they couldn't keep the streak going and lost the first 2 games against the Cleveland Indians. Francisco Liriano was able to avoid the sweep and went 7 shutout innings yesterday. Delmon Young went 3-5 with 3 rbi's in the #3 spot where catcher Joe Mauer usually is. Young continues to swing a hot bat, leading the American League with batting average with runners in scoring position and had 12 hits in the 7 game homestand. Carl Pavano pitched another complete game on Saturday, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2.

Minnesota Twins First Half Analysis of the 2010 Season

The 2010 MLB season is officially halfway. The Minnesota Twins currently sit at 46-42 and 3rd place in the AL Central Division. The expectations are high and as fans we expect them to outright win the division with their potent lineup. Here is the positives and negatives of the first half of the season.

POSITIVES:

-Target Field, already one of the best ballparks in the game.

-Delmon Young is batting .305, 10 home runs, 58 rbi. On pace for career season.

-Justin Morneau batting .345, 18 home runs, 56 rbi, and has played spectacular defense. Potential MVP candidate.

-Carl Pavano is 10-6, with a 3.58 ERA, and 13 quality starts. And has a sweet mustache.

-Jon Rauch with 20 saves. Didn't have to make for a trade and the Twins have only lost twice when going into the 9th leading.

-Jim Thome & 10 home runs. Gives the Minnesota Twins a true DH.

NEGATIVES

-Joe Mauer with .293 and 4 home runs. I know he's human but he's capable of more.

-Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey. All have a over a 4.00 ERA and have struggled to get into late innings.

-Michael Cuddyer hitting .267. Will be key for 2nd half surge.

-Hitting into double plays. The Minnesota Twins lead the league in grounding into double plays. Enough Said

Recap of the Detroit Tigers Series

The Minnesota Twins took 1 game of the 3 game series against the Detroit Tigers. After losing the first 2 games, Carl Pavano once again delivered a much needed victory. The Minnesota Twins are 3-7 in their last 10 games and are 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox, good for 3rd place in the AL Central Division. The All-Star will give the Twins some rest and hopefully refresh the players for the second half of the season. First basemen Justin Morneau is missing the All-Star game with a concussion and Joe Mauer had his shoulder examined. The Chicago White Sox visit Target Field after the All-Star break.

Toronto Blue Jays topple Minnesota Twins, Take 2 of 3

The Minnesota Twins are in a slump. The Toronto Blue Jays took 2 of 3 from the Twins and hit too many home runs that I don't even want to count. The Minnesota Twins will now travel to the Detroit Tigers in a big AL Central showdown. Minnesota desperately needs to get in a groove and figure out their pitching problems. The lineup is finally healthy yet we still are struggling to win games. Pitcher Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners appears to be heading to the New York Yankees (speculation, but still) which doesn't help the Minnesota Twins. The starting pitching staff needs to pitch better and more effectively for the Twins to make a run. For Minnesota Twins tickets visit Ticket King.

Minnesota Twins Interested in Seattle Mariner's Cliff Lee

It has been reported over the past few weeks that the Minnesota Twins have been interested in Seattle Pitcher Cliff Lee. Lee has been one of the best pitchers in the MLB over the last few seasons, winning a Cy Young Award in 2008 with the Cleveland Indians. After losing 3 of 4 to the Tampa Bay Rays and pitchers Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, and Kevin Slowey having inconsistent starts, the talks have reportedly intensified. The Twins have prospect Wilson Ramos, a coveted catcher who the Mariners could use. If a deal occurs, it will most likely involve Wilson Ramos and at least another solid prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization. Lee would provide the Twins with a true ace and a pitcher who does not pitch for contact. He has 4 complete games in his last 6 starts with a 8-3 record and 2.34 ERA. The Twins will have to decide if they feel Lee is worth being a 3 to 4 month player that could elevate them to the next level for giving up at least 2 quality prospects. If the Twins acquire Lee, it would be hard to resign him since the Twins have invested All-Star money into Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

Minnesota Twins Drop 3 of 4 to Tampa Bay Rays

The 4th of July provides for a great mid-summer retreat with family and friends in the summer. It did not provide for a good weekend for the Minnesota Twins. The Minnesota Twins lost 3 of 4 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field. The Twins are in desperate need of getting hot and going on a streak. After starting hot in April and May, the Twins have struggled in June and early July. In a pivotal game on Saturday, the bullpen blew a 4-1 lead in the 8th and lost the game 8-6. On Thursday, Minnesota Twins closer Jon Rauch blew a 4-3 lead with 2 outs in the 9th inning and lost 5-4 in 10 innings. The Minnesota Twins will now be on the road in Toronto and Detroit for 6 games from July 6th to July 11th. The starting pitching and bullpen must improve if the Minnesota Twins want to win the AL Central Division and go deep in the playoffs. On Sunday, catcher Joe Mauer and 1st baseman Justin Morneau were named starters for the American League All-Star team to be played on July 13th in Anaheim, California. Outfielder Delmon Young has a chance to become the final player on the American League team, part of the "Final Vote" option for fans to vote in. Young will compete with Nick Swisher (Yankees), Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), Michael Young (Rangers), and Paul Konerko (White Sox). Go to MLB.com to vote for Young!

Minnesota Twins take 2 of 3 from Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays up Next

The Minnesota Twins won the rubber match yesterday afternoon 5-1 against the Detroit Tigers. Justin Morneau hit his 16th home run, Kevin Slowey pitched 6 innings, and the Twins pushed their division lead to 1 1/2 games. Joe Mauer got the day off so backup Drew Butera caught. Outfielder Delmon Young moved up to the #3 spot after hitting in the #7 spot almost all year. Young went 1-4 with 1 RBI in his first appearance in the third spot, where Joe Mauer usually bats. Michael Cuddyer played 3rd base again which allows Jason Kubel to play right field and Jim Thome at the designated hitter position. The Minnesota Twins now start a 4 game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Carl Pavano will get the mound and has pitched 2 consecutive complete games.