Now, Onto Toronto.

[catman]

The Twins conclude this 14 game, 15 day road-trip with 3 games in Toronto starting Tuesday.
Perkins v. Purcey on Tuesday in a battle of young lefties.
Blackburn v. Burnett on Wednesday.
Slowey v. Litsch on Thursday.

[henks]

Toronto has the chance to play spoiler, as well as help their own (small) chance of the playoff situation.

[henks]

don't worry guys....the thread didn't die.


off day today.

[catman]

Looking at the pitching matchups, I like the Twins' chances in games 1 & 3, but Blackburn has been too inconsistant to beat Burnett, IMO. It all depends on the bats, though.

[catman]

The bats came through in the top of the 7th inning tonight. A couple of walks and a bloop double loaded the bases and Joe Mauer, the AL's best hitter against lefties, hit a double to the left-center gap, emptying the bases. Jason Pridie is in to play RF, after pinch-running for Delmon Young and scoring on Mauer's double. Lets see how he does, but Blackburn is the story tonight. He has kept the Jays off-balance tonight, for the most part.
Twins are up 3-2, with Burnett out of the game.

[catman]

The defense has not been good in the late innings. Twice, the Jays have scored unearned runs to tie the game. Alexis Rios triples with one out in the bottom of the 10th, now an intentional walk to Vernon Wells. Another to Adam Lind to load the bases for Curtis Thigpen, the 3rd catcher.

[henks]

It's a bit disheartening to see the number 3 under the 'E' column on the boxscore. Plus, another blown save for Nathan. Too bad, too. It was a decent showing for Blackburn matching up against Burnett.

[catman]

Who is this Travis Snider? He seems to be a very good young hitter. Bonser coming in? I think I'll go get my wife at work and read about the end of the game when I get back.

[henks]

Good plan, since they just lost.

[catman]

I guess I stayed a bit longer than I wanted to, but a single to McDonald wins the game for the Jays. 9 losses by a total of 12 runs this road-trip.
What happened to pitching and defense? They were the corner-stones of the Twins team.
Wait til next year.....

[mntwinsfan]

What happened to the Twins? We get a lead and can't hold it. Then the defense and Nathan fall apart. We are lucky to only be a game back. If we CAN"T win on the road we won't win in the playoffs if we can get in. Young team or not we pride our club on defense and lately we suck!!

[henks]

Not good. 9-0, and the sweep.

[Foster]

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but it was bad for the Twins tonight.
Almost like they were deflated by last nights game.

I wish you luck with your quest. I'd love to see Morneau have a shot in the play-off's.

[henks]

I think last night's loss has something to do with it, and just the fact of playing that many games on the road in a row will just wear you out. Back to back nights of blown saves by Joe Nathan, the bullpen crumbling, and very shoddy defense is not something that our team is known for. Hopefully they leave all of this trashy playing on the road, and start winning some games in the Dome.

[catman]

Now, the Twins have 22 games left -- 12 at home, 10 on the road. The Sox visit the Dome the last week of the season, so we have that to look forward to. Maybe the Twins will still have a shot at winning this thing?