Twins 2 Royals 4
The Twins got in their own way all afternoon long. I think they hit into at least 10 double plays with runners in scoring position. I gave up in the 7th inning once the score was 4-2 because I had dinner plans.
Chicago also lost today so we are clinging to our 1/2 game lead., so our Magic number is 2. Here are the different ways it could play out tomorrow:
1. The Twins win and the Sox lose (please!) and the AL Cental belongs to the Twins!
2. The Twins and the Sox both lose (annoying!) so we keep the 1/2 game lead, and Chicago has to play their make up game with the Tigers.
If the Tigers won that game, the Twins lead is 1 whole game so we win the AL Central.
If the Sox win that game we are tied for 1st in the AL Central and we have to play that winner take all game in Chicago on Tuesday.
I haven't figured out how it work if the Twins were to lose (yikes!) and the Sox were to win (barf!). Do the Sox still make up their game with the Tigers? I think it is only fair that they do. If anyone can clear this up for me I would greatly appreciate it.
This all makes my head hurt and a little sick to my stomach. Since I'm a total glutton for punishment I'm going to the Twins game tomorrow with Tricia, the Twins Kid and our Mom.
I'm not going to make any predications for tomorrow or say anything negative about Chicago or Kansas City. The Twins will do their best and if they lose, they will go down swinging. (Pun intended!)
**Becca**
Twins 1 Royals 8
After that off the hook, unreal win on Thursday night, the Twins got kicked around pretty badly by the Royals. It is too bad because the Indians were kind enough to beat the White Sox. I can't blame the Royals or the Indians for wanting to be the spoilers. I would want to knock the crap out of some team trying to get the playoffs if we were going to finish the season in 3rd or 4th place.
I watched last night's game through the end of the 7th inning, hoping for a big Twins rally that was not meant to be. The energy of Thursday night's game may have just zapped their offense. I felt just zapped all day yesterday and I was just there watching it.
Today's game with the Royals got moved to 2:55. Who ever would have thought that Fox would care enough about a Twins/Royals to have a national broadcast?
No matter what happens over the next few days, this season will be one that I will always remember.
**Becca**
P.S. A big Twins Sisters congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays for finishing up in first place in the AL East! That is truly awesome, something I'm sure no one would have ever thought possible.
Twins 7, White Sox 6 -- 10 innings
The Dome was rocking. 43,000 people were booing A.J. in unison. 43,000 people were hollering, "Let's go Punto!" all together. I screamed so loud my voice is a little bit hoarse today.
I'm really at a loss for words here. I've never been to a game like that before.
The guys came back from that really miserable top of the 4th that shouldn't have been miserable. The bullpen pitchers all pitched great. The offense chipped away at that five run deficit. GoGo and Denard made up for that snafu in right field. It was really good to see Cuddy, even though he didn't get a hit. I was kind of glad that Slowey plunked A.J. even tho' it meant an extra run scored. Heck, five runs, six runs, what's the difference?
They won! They SWEPT THE SOX!!
Here are some video highlights. Watching them is so much better than anything I can say.
Span ties the game!
Gomez makes a great catch!
Alexi's walkoff!
Please don't be complacent tonight, guys! Go get the Royals.
--Tricia--
p.s. Lest I seem heartless here, I gotta say I'm really sorry that Slowey got hit by that wicked line drive. The good news is that he didn't break or tear anything. I can't imagine how much that must have hurt.
Twins 9, White Sox 3
That game was all kinds of awesome.
I am still nervous for tonight's. I don't dare to state any wishes, dreams, hopes or desires for this one. I'm not normally a superstitious person, but when it comes to big baseball games, I am. I'm wearing a shirt I wore to a game last year where the Twins were down a few runs the whole game and came back to win it in the 9th. I figure it's got a few good vibes left.
Watch the game and cheer until you're hoarse!
--Tricia--
I don't think I've ever been this stressed over baseball. Ever.
I think all the Twins should practice a little bit of Lamaze breathing before the first pitch today. Whoo hoo, hee hee. Quite frankly, it's useless as pain control during labor, but it's a very useful as a way to control stress. Someone's really irritating the crap out of you? Don't bother counting to ten. Just do the special breathing. Stuck in traffic and already late for work? Think Lamaze!
I suppose it would be really weird for a whole group of manly men to be out on the baseball field practicing Lamaze, so perhaps they can do it as a team, pre-game, in the locker room.
They can do it quietly and indvidually when the need arises. Down 0-2 in a pitcher's count? Call for time and take a few breaths. Bases loaded, one out? Step off the rubber and take a few breaths. I especially recommend this for the bullpen.
As for the Sox, if they get stressed? They can have an epidural. It'll be hard for them to play if the middle of their bodies are numb.
Go Twins!
--Tricia--
Twins 4 Rays 1
I just couldn't help myself today. I had to watch. I told myself that they just HAD to win so that they would be within striking distance when they play the White Sox.
September was not this hard for me last year. We knew that the Twins were not going to the playoffs so we were able to enjoy the games without all this extra stress because we knew there was nothing at stake, and we knew exactly when the end of the season would be. There was no scoreboard watching, no hoping another team would lose so that we could gain ground (or not lose any).
So here we are..... 2.5 games behind with six left to play. Do the Twins have an uphill battle? Heck yeah, they do. Can they do it?
That's up to them.
**Becca**
Friday night: Twins 1 Rays 11
I love the Twins, but there's a little voice in the back of my head that I've trying to mute for the last couple of weeks, but it is impossible after the game the Twins just finished.
"Perhaps the Twins don't deserve to be in the playoffs this season."
**The starting pitcher can't seem to get out of the 4th inning, and that's on a good day.
**On the days where they manage to make it through the 7th inning, the bullpen blows it.
**The offense is having a harder time cashing in when they get leadoff hits or are issued a leadoff walk.
**They will have one big inning when they bat around and POOF! Nothing for the rest of the game.
No need to pour salt in our wounds, because I know everyone is bummed out enough already. I hope they will pull it off, but I'm starting to have my doubts. I can't be the only one.
That being said, I hope that the White Sox slip on a huge banana peel and fall flat on their faces while in Minnesota next week. Tricia and I are going to the game next Thursday.
**Becca**
Thursday night:
Twins 11 Rays 8
I was out with some friends last night, so I didn't start watching this game until the very end of the Twins half of the 9th inning. Oh sure, I watch those crapfest games with the Indians and then I miss the awesome 9th inning last night. At least they WON and the White Sox LOST and in September that is all that matters! I did see the bottom of the 9th and that was sweet. It lasted all of 5 minutes. Nice! Joe Nathan and the Twins needed it!
My baseball boyfriend will always be Nick Punto, but I'm also smitten with Adam Everett. He doesn't play that often but when he does he almost always seems to contribute something meaningful. Plus, he's kinda cute, and that always helps.
Time for me to watch the game!
**Becca**
