Twins 12, Tigers 1

All I can say is "Wow". Since I can't decide which to write about first, I'll start with the amazing outing by Johan Cytana (18-5, 2.75 ERA). I could even go so far as to call it magical. Johan pitched one batter into the seventh inning due to a pitch count of 108, allowing only 2 hits. He walked 2 Tigers (on iffy calls by the home plate blue, if you ask me) and struck out eleven, earning his 18th victory of the year. Sunday's game only added to his case for another Cy Young Award, and brought more MVP whispers.

To have three MVP candidates on one ballclub is pretty special, and I'm willing to bet it hasn't happened since 1965. Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles won it that year, over outfielder Tony Oliva and ace Mudcat Grant, becoming the first Latin player to win the award.

When it comes to the Twins' show of offense, I think it can best be described by Joe Mauer: Pour it on, Minnesota. With Jeremy Bonderman (11-8, 4.18 ERA) only pitching 5.1 innings, the boys got 7 runs off 8 hits, struck out six times and walked three. The runs came early, with one in the first off a Joe Mauer double. They grabbed another one in the second after Torii Hunter (3 for 4) singled, stole second and advanced to third on a Jason Kubel (1 for 3) swinging strike that got away from catcher Vance Wilson. He was then driven in on a sac fly by Jason Tyner (1 for 1, 2 RBIs), bringing the score to 2-0, Twins.

More strikeouts by Santana ensued, getting 1 in the third, 3 in the fourth and striking out the side in the fifth. After Tyner tripled, Jason Bartlett (1 for 2, 2 RBIs) took one for the team. He then stole second before Luis Castillo (1 for 2, 2 RBIs) walked. Nick Punto (4 for 5, 3 RBIs), who has been a tear of late, grounded into a forceout at home, but left the bases loaded. Mauer hit a sac fly to left, scoring Bartlett, but Michael Cuddyer (0 for 4) then lined out to end the inning. Johan gets another K in the top of the sixth and this is about when the pounding began.

After two straight singles by Morneau (2 for 4) and Hunter, Kubel bunted to move the runners over. Then JT was intentionally walked...never a good idea with Bartlett on deck, who's hitting .328. He hit a sacrifice fly to score Morneau before Castillo tripled, scoring two more. At this point, Jim Leyland had had enough, so Bonderman was replaced by reliever Jamie Walker (2.02 ERA). It didn't really matter though, because Punto promptly singled before Mauer doubled again to bring him home. Cuddy ended the inning again on a ground out. :(

Santana came onto the mound in the top of the seventh, ready to roll. After a lead off single by Magglio Ordonez, he threw a wild pitch with the runner advancing. He then struck out Carlos Guillen before being replaced by Juan Rincon (2.97 ERA). Fans went nuts during a much-deserved standing ovation for Johan, as we watched the All Star Cy Young candidate exit the game. Rincon ended the Tigers' hope of scoring with a man on, forcing two groundouts to polish off the inning.

As if an 8-0 lead wasn't enough, the Twins came back with 4 more in the bottom of the frame. With Jordan Tata (6.14 ERA) pitching, Morneau, Hunter and Kubel strung together three straight singles to load the bags for Tyner. He scored Justin on a sac fly to right, and Bartlett singled on a liner to center. One batter later, Punto belted a single to center, scoring two more runs. Twins 12, Tiger, 0. Minnesota had a total of 15 hits - 3 triples and 2 doubles - in the game, scoring on all but 3 of hits, with 3 stolen bases. It's the little things. With all 12 runs, not a one was a homer. That's just how they roll.

Offensive push in the sixth

Detroit didn't score a run until Willie Eyre (5.60 ERA) came in to pitch the ninth, and gave up two base hits to Alexis Gomez and Ramon Santiago, then a Neifi Perez single on a soft liner to left. Gomez scored, but that was the only run allowed when Wilson grounded into a double play to end the game.

Batting Title Watch: Joe Mauer (.350) had another impressive game Sunday, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a walk, maintaining his lead in the batting title run over Derek Jeter (.345), who went 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs in the Yankee's 9-4 win over Baltimore Sunday afternoon.

With Chicago losing late to Cleveland 5-2, the Twins take a 1 1/2 game lead over the White Sox in the Wild Card Race and come as close as any team has gotten to the Tigers with a two game deficit. Interestingly enough, Minnesota has played one less game than Detroit, showing a one-loss difference in records.

VS.

The Twins start a brand new series against the Oakland on Monday with Carlos Silva (8-13, 6.30 ERA) on the hill against Joe Blanton (15-10, 4.66 ERA) and the A's. Oakland leads the American League West by six games over the Angels. With Matt Guerrier (0-0, 3.04 ERA) getting his very first start on Tuesday, Francisco Liriano (12-3, 2.19 ERA) will make his long-awaited comeback in the series finale on Wednesday.