The Monday Run-Down

The Minnesota Twins started their last weekend before the All-Star break with a bang. Game 1, which was a make up game from a previous rain out, ended with a football score; with the Twins winning 20-14 by pushing out 23 hits and a grand slam by Jason Kubel. It was John Garland’s earliest exit since 2004. For a struggling Twins offense, this was a great game to start off against the White Sox.


Game two started just as well as game one did. 2006 MVP Justin Morneau crushed a 3-run home run to right field to give the Twins the early 3-0 lead. From there, the Twins would go on a 9-0 run and blank the White Sox 12-0. Matt Garza, who was called up the week before, scattered 5 hits over 6 innings with 6 strike outs and no runs. Although he had a strong start, Garza will most likely be put back into the bullpen as the Twins do not need a 5th starter for a couple more weeks.


Games 3 and 4….not so good. Mark Buehrle threw 8 shutout innings and stifled a Twins team that had scored 34 runs in the previous 2 games against them. The Sox scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th and that was all that they would need. Boof Bonser pitched a solid game, with his only mistake being a 2 run home-run to Paul Konerko. The Twins just couldn’t buy a hit or a run until Torii Hunter hit a sac fly in the 9th. Sunday’s game was pretty much the same story. Javier Vazquez threw a gem of a game to beat the Twins 6-3. It was his second complete game in a row for the White Sox pitcher. Carlos Silva gave up 3 home runs in the 3rd inning, two of which were to Jim Thome and Paul Konerko for back-to-back shots. The Twins couldn’t muster up any more of their run scoring to beat the White Sox in the final two games.


Now Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter and Johan Santana will travel to San Francisco for the 2007 MLB All-Star game. Morneau will be participating in the Home Run Derby against perennial power hitters Albert Pujols, Vladimir Guerrero, Magglio Ordonez and Ryan Howard. Hopefully Morneau will not fall into the “Home Run Derby curse” that has plagued hitters for the last couple of years.


Other weekend Stories :


I’m going to miss John Kruk at the All-Star game….


Federer is just running the table right now


Buehrle = not a white flag


Anyone remember the Tigers who couldn’t catch a baseball?....


Another reason why NASCAR is a joke


Can anyone just outright beat Tiger? Or does he just let guys win?



Enjoy the annual Century 21 Home-Run derby. Let’s hope that Morneau can pollute McCovey Cove with baseballs!