After a disastrous start to this nine game road trip, the Twins managed to right the ship and get some quality starting pitching, solid relief pitching, and timely hitting.
Unfortunately, it wasn't all at the same time. So far on this trip, if the starting pitching has been lacking, the bullpen has been okay. If the bullpen was good, the starter didn't do well. If the pitching has been good, timely hits are hard to come by.
The Twins will look to get all facets of the team on the same page against the Oakland A's tonight.
For the Twins, the poster boy of 2011's inconsistency, Francisco Liriano, will take the mound. On the year, Liriano is 6-8 with a 4.82 ERA. At times, Liriano has been spectacular, like throiwing a no hitter against the Chicago White Sox on May 23rd. Other times, he's been dreadful, like in his most recent start, where he couldn't make it out of the third inning against Detroit.
Oakland has played good baseball since the All Star break, going 8-5 with the best team batting average in baseball, .317. On the mound for the A's is Gio Gonzalez, who has a 9-7 record with a 2.67 ERA on the season. Despite his impressive ERA this year, lifetime he is 2-2 against Minnesota, with a terrible 8.03 ERA.
The Twins also made a roster move,. Alexi Casilla has been place on the 15 day DL due to an injured right hamstring, and in his place 2nd baseman Luke Hughes was recalled from Rochester. P Chuck James was also sent down, and 2nd baseman Matt Tolbert called up.
First pitch tonight is 9:05 CST from Oakland Alameda County Stadium Coliseum.