Minnesota can’t back Pavano’s eight-inning complete game
ARLINGTON — Manager Ron Gardenhire lamented some defensive miscues by his club following Monday’s contest against the Rangers, when the Twins were nearly no-hit.
On Tuesday night, the Twins were left to ponder whether another defensive blunder wound up being the difference in a 4-3 loss to the Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.
In a series featuring two teams currently in first place in their respective divisions, there is already the feeling of October baseball surrounding these contests. These victories are not only important in terms of the Twins’ and Rangers’ own pennant races, but also as to which teams they might face if they can make it to the postseason.
But in contests where the intensity seems to be stepped up a notch, so too is the cost when mistakes are made.
The game was tied at 2 in the fourth inning thanks to Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton leading off the inning by belting the first pitch from Carl Pavano deep to center field. Despite the leadoff homer, Pavano seemed to be working his way out of the inning, recording two quick outs, before trouble struck.
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Box:
| Minnesota | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Span, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .265 |
| Hudson, O, 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .286 |
| Mauer, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .329 |
| Kubel, RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .258 |
| Cuddyer, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .274 |
| Young, D, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .310 |
| Valencia, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .321 |
| Casilla, A, SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .284 |
| a-Thome, PH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .269 |
| 1-Repko, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .246 |
| Butera, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .204 |
| b-Tolbert, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .213 |
| Totals | 35 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 15 | .279 |
a-Hit by pitch for Casilla, A in the 9th. b-Struck out for Butera in the 9th.
1-Ran for Thome in the 9th.
BATTING
2B: Cuddyer (31, Lewis), Hudson, O (19, Lewis), Casilla, A (7, Lewis).
TB: Hudson, O 3; Mauer; Cuddyer 2; Young, D; Valencia; Casilla, A 2.
RBI: Cuddyer 2 (63), Casilla, A (13).
2-out RBI: Cuddyer 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Young, D; Hudson, O.
GIDP: Cuddyer.
Team RISP: 2-for-10.
Team LOB: 6.
FIELDING
DP: (Hudson, O-Cuddyer-Casilla, A).