Sunday, October 4, 2009

Fight to the Postseason

The Twins aren't saying goodbye to the Metrodome just yet.
Jason Kubel hit two three-run homers and Delmon Young added a pair of solo shots powering Minnesota to a 13-4 win Sunday over Kansas City and into a one-game playoff for the second consecutive season, this time against Detroit.
The game will be held at the Dome.
Following an impressive 5-4 win over AL CY Young favorite Zach Grienke Saturday, in which the Twins blew a 4-0 lead before Michael Cuddyer won it in the bottom of the eighth with a blast into the left field bleachers, Minnesota pounded the Royals for 13 runs on an efficient 11 hits, five of which left the park.
Walks to Denard Span and Joe Mauer set up Kubel's first homer. Young's dinger two batters later gave the Twins an early 4-0 after one inning.
And the clouts kept coming.
Kubel went deep in the third after an Orlando Cabrera double and another Mauer free pass.
Kindled by Young's second yardsale and concluded with Cuddyer's second homer in as many days, Minnesota scored at least one run from the fifth inning on.
Kansas City rallied back from an 8-1 deficit, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth and even bringing the tying run to the plate, but Rob Mahay got Billy Butler to strike out swinging to end the threat.
Earlier in the day the Tigers ended a three game slide with a strong performance from ace Justin Verlander, defeating Chicago 5-3.
Scott Baker will face rookie Rick Porcello in Tuesday's one-game playoff.

NOTES:
Cuddyer's dinger was his 10th in September/October, tying him for second on the Twins' all-time list for most long balls hit during those months. Harmon Killebrew once hit 11.
Delmon Young is hitting .529 (9-for-17) in four October games with three home runs and 10 RBI. Since becoming an everyday player on Sept. 7 (24 games), he has batted .347.
Mauer, although his average fell to .363 with an 0-for-3 afternoon, will win his third AL batting title in the past four seasons.
Kubel surpassed century mark for RBI with his second moonshot. He sits at 102.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

yes, interesting Twins got to go back to the dome again.