SB Nation Minnesota - Blue Jays At Twins: Bautista's Three Homers Help Crush Twinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2011-05-15T16:59:24-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19340882011-05-15T16:59:24-05:002011-05-15T16:59:24-05:00Minnesota Twins Rearrange Deck Chairs On Titanic, Call Up Swarzak, Dumatrait
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> are baseball's worst team. At this point, it's not even close. The bullpen has been a major source of discontent for the team thus far in 2011, and the team made a couple of roster moves to attempt to remedy that this afternoon following their loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>.</p>
<p><span>Jose Mijares</span> was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the team this afternoon, and <span>Jim Hoey</span> was sent back down to Rochester. To replace them, the Twins have recalled pitcher <span>Anthony Swarzak</span> and pitcher <span>Phil Dumatrait</span> (pronounced Doo-MAH-tray). Catcher <span>Steve Holm</span> was removed from the team's 40-man roster in order to make room for Dumatrait.</p>
<p>Hoey has been fairly awful since getting called up. In six appearances and a total of five innings pitched, he has an ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 2.20. Mijares has appeared in fifteen games this season and registered 9.1 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 3.86 and a WHIP of 1.61.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/15/2172556/minnesota-twins-rearrange-deck-chairs-on-titanicChristopher Gates2011-05-15T16:48:40-05:002011-05-15T16:48:40-05:00Eight Is Not Great: Twins Lose Again, 11-3
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> struck early and often on Sunday afternoon, scoring in each of the first four innings en route to trouncing the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> at Target Field by a final score of 11-3.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays had their offense going early, as a two-out, two-run double by <span>Aaron Hill</span> in the top of the first gave Toronto a quick 2-0 lead. An RBI double by <span>Yunel Escobar</span> in the top of the second made the score 3-0. <span>Jose Bautista</span> led off the top of the third with a solo home run to left off of <span>Brian Duensing</span> to make the score 4-0, and the Jays would score three more times in the inning to make it 7-0 in favor of the visitors.</p>
<p>Duensing was lifted after three innings for <span>Kevin Slowey</span>, and Bautista greeted him with a solo home run to left as well, extending Toronto's lead to 8-0. The Twins then appeared to almost have a threat going in the bottom of the fourth against Toronto starter Brendan Morrow. <span>Trevor Plouffe</span> got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, <span>Jason Kubel</span> singled to put runners on the corners, and <span>Justin Morneau</span> walked to load the bases for Minnesota with nobody out.</p>
<p>In typical Twins fashion. . .the 2011 Twins, anyway. . .it didn't amount to much. <span>Delmon Young</span> struck out on three pitches, and <span>Michael Cuddyer</span> walked to force home Minnesota's first run. <span>Danny Valencia</span> then flew out to right, but not deep enough for Kubel to score from third base, and <span>Drew Butera</span> struck out to end the inning.</p>
<p>After that, the Twins managed to hold the Blue Jays scoreless for an entire inning, and RBI doubles from Plouffe and Morneau narrowed the gap to 8-3 going into the sixth. Toronto then refocused themselves, and picked up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Those runs came courtesy of an RBI single from <span>Corey Patterson</span>, and Bautista's third home run of the afternoon, who decided to add a little variety by taking Slowey out to right field instead. The score at that point was 11-3, and that was how the game ended. Minnesota loaded the bases again in the bottom of the ninth, but Toronto reliever <span>Octavio Dotel</span> got Jason Kubel to strike out looking to end the ball game.</p>
<p>Morrow got the victory for the Blue Jays, evening his record on the season at 2-2. Duensing took the loss, allowing eight hits and seven runs in his three innings of work, dropping his record to 2-3. Slowey allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of relief.</p>
<p>No rest for Minnesota, as they'll catch a flight out of town to Seattle for a quick two-game set with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> on Monday and Tuesday. First pitch from Safeco Field on Monday is scheduled for 9:10 PM Central time. The pitching match-up will have <span>Scott Baker</span> (2-2, 3.71 ERA) taking the mound for the Twins. He'll be opposed by one of baseball's best pitchers, Seattle's <span>Felix Hernandez</span> (4-3, 3.36 ERA).</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/15/2172528/eight-is-not-great-twins-lose-again-11-3Christopher Gates2011-05-15T12:34:22-05:002011-05-15T12:34:22-05:00Twins Try Again To Snap Losing Skid
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<p>Things just continue to get uglier for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a>, as they have dropped seven consecutive ball games and have sunk to the depths of baseball's worst record once again.</p>
<p>The Twins had a late lead yesterday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>, but gave up a late run to allow the game to go into extra innings, and then melted down completely in the eleventh inning to give Toronto a 9-3 victory on Saturday at Target Field.</p>
<p>Minnesota will attempt to stop their skid on Sunday afternoon, placing their hopes on the left arm of <span>Brian Duensing</span> (2-2, 3.32 ERA). The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander <span>Brandon Morrow</span> (1-2, 4.71).</p>
<p>Here are the lineups for both teams, first for the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.</p>
<p><span>Yunel Escobar</span>, shortstop<br><span>Corey Patterson</span>, center field<br><span>Jose Bautista</span>, right field<br><span>Edwin Encarnacion</span>, first base<br><span>Aaron Hill</span>, second base<br>Juan Rivera, designated hitter<br><span>Rajai Davis</span>, center field<br><span>John McDonald</span>, third base<br><span>Jose Molina</span>, catcher</p>
<p>Now, for the homestanding Minnesota Twins.</p>
<p><span>Denard Span</span>, center field<br><span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, shortstop<br><span>Jason Kubel</span>, designated hitter<br><span>Justin Morneau</span>, first base<br><span>Delmon Young</span>, left field<br><span>Michael Cuddyer</span>, right field<br><span>Danny Valencia</span>, third base<br><span>Drew Butera</span>, catcher<br><span>Alexi Casilla</span>, second base</p>
<p>First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM Central time at Target Field. Be sure to check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/5/15/2172144/game-38-blue-jays-19-20-twins-12-25">Game Thread over at Twinkie Town</a> to discuss all of the action, and then come back here for the recap.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/15/2172204/twins-try-again-to-snap-losing-skidChristopher Gates2011-05-14T19:18:39-05:002011-05-14T19:18:39-05:00Twins Lose To Blue Jays, 9-3, After Another Pitching Collapse
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> found another new, creative, and exciting way to lose on Saturday afternoon at Target Field, falling to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> in an eleven-inning affair by a score of 9-3.</p>
<p>Yes, a six-run loss in extra innings. Your 2011 Minnesota Twins, ladies and gentlemen.</p>
<p>The two teams were tied at two after five and a half innings, and the Twins took a 3-2 lead on <span>Michael Cuddyer</span>'s solo home run to lead off the sixth. <span>Nick Blackburn</span> cruised into the top of the eighth inning, and got the first two outs in short order, but then <span>Yunel Escobar</span> reached on an infield single, and scored on <span>Corey Patterson</span>'s triple to tie the game at three. <span>Matt Capps</span> came in to relieve Blackburn, and retired Juan Rivera on strikes to end the inning.</p>
<p>After Capps retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the ninth, the Twins gave themselves an opportunity in the bottom half against former teammate <span>Jon Rauch</span>, thanks to <span>Justin Morneau</span>'s one-out double. Unfortunately, they failed to capitalize, as <span>Delmon Young</span> struck out swinging, and Michael Cuddyer popped out to second to end the threat.</p>
<p>Neither team threatened in the tenth, and <span>Glen Perkins</span>, who got through the tenth with no problem, gave up a lead-off single to Corey Patterson to start the eleventh. <span>Jim Hoey</span> came in to relieve Perkins, and promptly gave up a two-run homer to <span>Jose Bautista</span> to break the deadlock. Hoey then walked two consecutive hitters before being lifted for <span>Jose Mijares</span>, who gave up a two-run double to J.P. Arrencibia. Mijares gave up a hit to <span>Edwin Encarnacion</span>, and then walked two consecutive hitters to force in a run and was lifted without recording an out. By the time the smoke finally cleared, the Twins had given up six runs and trailed 9-3 going into the bottom of the eleventh.</p>
<p><span>Shawn Camp</span> retired the Twins in order in the bottom of the eleventh, and the reeling Twins were sent to their seventh straight loss.</p>
<p>Rauch got the victory for the Blue Jays, lifting his record for the season to 2-2. Perkins took the loss for the Twins, which was his first decision of 2011.</p>
<p>The Twins will attempt to avoid their eighth straight loss and their third consecutive series sweep on Sunday at Target Field. Right-hander <span>Brandon Morrow</span> (1-2, 4.71 ERA) will take the ball for the Blue Jays, and the Twins will counter with lefty <span>Brian Duensing</span> (2-2, 3.32 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM Central time.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/14/2171399/twins-lose-to-blue-jays-9-3-after-another-pitching-collapseChristopher Gates2011-05-14T14:16:07-05:002011-05-14T14:16:07-05:00Twins Attempt To Snap Out Of Funk Against Blue Jays
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<p>The <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> have dropped six consecutive games, and they'll try to snap that streak today as they go with a change of uniform to honor a legend.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/14/2171023/harmon-killebrew-twins-throwback-harmon-killebrew-minnesota">As our own Scott Schroeder mentioned earlier</a>, the Twins will begin wearing their throwback uniforms starting today to honor Minnesota legend Harmon Killebrew, who announced yesterday that he has moved into hospice care and given up his fight against esophageal cancer.</p>
<p>The Twins couldn't muster any offense in Friday night's game, and fell to the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blue Jays</a> by a score of 2-0, their third loss in four games against Toronto this season. Jays' starter <span>Ricky Romero</span> pitched 8.2 scoreless innings, and only allowed four Minnesota hits.</p>
<p>Today, the Blue Jays will send <span>Jo-Jo Reyes</span> to the mound. Reyes is looking for his first victory in his last <em>twenty-six</em> starts. Reyes has not been credited with a victory since June 13, 2008. . .but if the Twins continue to perform at their current level offensively, he stands a pretty good chance this afternoon. Minnesota will counter with right-hander <span>Nick Blackburn</span>, who is 2-4 on the year with a 3.95 ERA.</p>
<p>First pitch for this one is scheduled for 3:10 PM Central time from Target Field. Be sure to hang out with our friends over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/5/14/2170828/game-37-blue-jays-18-20-twins-12-24">Twinkie Town in their Game Thread</a> while the action is going on, and come back over here for the recap.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/14/2171093/twins-attempt-to-snap-out-of-funk-against-blue-jaysChristopher Gates2011-05-13T22:39:34-05:002011-05-13T22:39:34-05:00Twins' Offense Stalls Again In 2-0 Loss To Toronto
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> got some sobering news earlier in the day, and looked very flat during their game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> on Friday night, dropping their series opener at Target Field by a final score of 2-0.</p>
<p>On Friday morning, news had gone out that former Twins legend Harmon Killebrew, who was still a very large part of the organization, had given up his fight against esophageal cancer, moving into hospice care to live out his final days. It's hard to say how much of an effect the news had on the Twins, but it certainly wasn't anything positive.</p>
<p>The Twins managed just four hits against Blue Jays' starter <span>Ricky Romero</span>, as Romero took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. <span>Denard Span</span> singled with two outs in the sixth to break up the no-no.</p>
<p><span>Carl Pavano</span> pitched reasonably well for the Twins as well, going 5.1 shutout innings before being lifted for <span>Alex Burnett</span>. Even though the Blue Jays collected thirteen hits off of Twins pitching, they managed only two runs. The first came in the top of the seventh off of Burnett, when <span>Corey Patterson</span> led off the inning with a walk, and then proceeded to steal second base. After a walk to <span>Jose Bautista</span>, <span>Jim Hoey</span> came in to relieve Burnett, and promptly gave up a single to Juan Rivera that brought Patterson home with the game's first run.</p>
<p>Bautista gave the Jays an insurance run in the top of the ninth, as he blasted a solo home run off of <span>Joe Nathan</span> to provide the final margin of victory for Toronto. The Twins mounted a bit of a threat in the bottom of the ninth, getting runners to first and second and finally chasing Romero one out short of a complete game, but <span>Frank Francisco</span> came on and struck out <span>Michael Cuddyer</span> to end the game.</p>
<p>The victory raised Romero's record to 3-4, and dropped his ERA to 3.35. Francisco registered his third save of the year by recording the final out. Burnett ended up taking the loss for the Twins, dropping his record to 0-2 on the year.</p>
<p>The same two teams will get together tomorrow at Target Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:10 PM Central time. The Blue Jays will hand the ball to left-hander <span>Jo-Jo Reyes</span> (0-3, 5.00 ERA), while the Twins will go with right-hander <span>Nick Blackburn</span> (2-4, 3.95).</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-twins/2011/5/13/2170390/twins-offense-stalls-again-in-2-0-loss-to-torontoChristopher Gates2011-05-13T18:00:24-05:002011-05-13T18:00:24-05:00Blue Jays At Twins: Minnesota Tries Again To Turn Things Around
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a>' 2011 season got off to an inauspicious start in Toronto back in April, as the Twins lost two of their first three games of the season at the Rogers Centre. Tonight, the Twins will try to make a fresh start of things and attempt to improve on baseball's worst record as they host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a> tonight at Target Field.</p>
<p>The Twins are just 12-23 through the first 35 games of the 2011 season, and no team in the majors finds themselves farther behind a division leader than the 10.5 games that Minnesota currently trails the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> by. In contrast, the Blue Jays are also under .500 so far this season, but trail the American League East-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> by just five games.</p>
<p>The Twins have still scored the fewest runs in baseball, with a mere 113 through their first 35 games, and are on pace for 523 for the season, a mark that would be their lowest since baseball went to a 162-game schedule. They have lost ten games this season by at least five runs, and are still at or near the bottom of the league in nearly every statistical category.</p>
<p>The pitching match-up for tonight is a rematch of what we saw on Opening Day, as <span>Ricky Romero</span> (2-4, 4.04 ERA) will take to the hill for the Blue Jays, and <span>Carl Pavano</span> (2-4, 6.64 ERA) will get the ball for the Twins. Romero easily got the better of the first match-up, as he allowed just one run and struck out seven in 6.1 innings. Pavano, on the other hand, got blasted for seven earned runs (including three homers) in four innings as the Blue Jays blew out the Twins 13-3.</p>
<p>The Twins will be hanging the jersey of Twins' legend Harmon Killebrew in their dugout this evening. Killebrew, the franchise's all-time leader in home runs and a Hall of Famer, announced today that he has chosen to stop his fight against esophageal cancer and has moved himself into hospice care to live out his final days.</p>
<p>Here are the lineups for Friday night's game. . .first for the visiting Blue Jays.</p>
<p><span>Yunel Escobar</span>, shortstop<br><span>Corey Patterson</span>, left field<br><span>Jose Bautista</span>, right field<br><span>Adam Lind</span>, designated hitter<br><span>Aaron Hill</span>, second base<br>Juan Rivera, first base<br>J.P. Arrencibia, catcher<br><span>Edwin Encarnacion</span>, third base<br><span>Rajai Davis</span>, center field</p>
<p>Now for the homestanding Twins.</p>
<p><span>Denard Span</span>, center field<br><span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, shortstop<br><span>Jason Kubel</span>, designated hitter<br><span>Justin Morneau</span>, first base<br><span>Delmon Young</span>, left field<br><span>Michael Cuddyer</span>, right field<br><span>Danny Valencia</span>, third base<br><span>Luke Hughes</span>, second base<br><span>Drew Butera</span>, catcher</p>
<p>First pitch at Target Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM Central time. You can check out the <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/5/13/2169532/game-36-blue-jays-twins" target="_blank">Game Thread from our friends at Twinkie Town</a> to discuss tonight's action, and come back here for the recap when things have finished.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2011/5/13/2335132/blue-jays-at-twins-minnesota-tries-again-to-turn-things-aroundChristopher Gates