Write this down on your calendar, boys and girls. The Twins won their second game in a row, 9-4 over the Brewers in extras.
When, you ask, did they last achieve this stupendous feat? June 1-2, when the they took the final two games in the home series with the Yankees.
But this was on the road. When did the Twins last win two in a row on the road? Well, actually, it's not that long ago -- it just seems like it. The Twins swept the Royals in KC May 27-29. That shouldn't even count because the Royals have turned into their usual woeful selves after starting the season with a sweep of the Tigers in Detroit.
Saturday night's win was a wild one. The Twins won in 12 innings when new call-up Brian Buscher singled with the bases loaded for his third straight hit and Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run triple and scored on an error.
Delmon Young joined Buscher in the three-hit club, while Alexi Casilla, Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel had two hits apiece.
Glen Perkins had a decent outing -- allowing three runs in six innings -- and the bullpen was good, with only Joe Nathan allowing a run. This was his second blown save of the year -- and the Twins have won both games. The lesson is clear: When the Twins get down to Nathan with a lead, they're in great shape for a win.
Morneau's on a hot streak. His batting average has been rising steadily, and is now at .307, very near Joe Mauer's .326.
It's worth noting that the rookies are playing well. Buscher's been great. So has Matt Macri. And, for that matter, so has Casilla, who was horrible when he was rushed onto the field after the Twins traded Luis Castillo last season.
The Twins' pitching statistics are interesting. It looks like the younger guys are catching on. Scott Baker's ERA is 3,60, Nick Blackburn's is 3.87. Glen Perkins' ERA is 4.58 and Kevin Slowey's is 4.70, but those two guys are getting better. Meanwhile, Livan Hernandez's ERA is 5.84. The overall team ERA is 4.63.
By the way, I erroneously reported in a previous post that Juan Rincon went down to the minors. He refused that assignment, so the Twins have 10 days to trade Rincon or he will become a free agent. Good riddance, roid boy. I still remember you blowing the playoff game against the Yankees all by yourself. Your ERA of 6.11 speaks for itself.
Did you know who has the best ERA on the team? Recent pickup Craig Breslow, who's pitched seven innings and allowed no earned runs. Breslow, by the way, has a degree in molecular physics. I wish he'd impart his formula for pitching success to Boof Bonser, who's a few weeks from the minors. He couldn't make it in the rotation, he couldn't make in the bullpen.
And what about division rivals? The White Sox finally lost and the Tigers won their fifth straight while Cleveland lost. (The Royals are really an AAA team, so forget about them.) So right now the Twins are four and a half back, the Indians six and half and the Tigers seven out.
Which means that it's up for grabs. And it's only June 15, so anything could happen.
The Brewers are now eight and a half games behind the Cubs.
Keywords: Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins
