Twins 7, Athletics 5

Matt Guerrier (0-0, 3.30 ERA) only pitched 4 innings (pretty much as expected), allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and struck out three Oakland batters. It was a rocky start, as he gave up 2 straight singles and a wild pitch in the first, before third baseman Eric Chavez tripled to score 2 runs.

Minnesota answered with Justin Morneau, (3 for 4, 2 RBIs) leading off the second with his 32nd double of the season. Torii Hunter (1 for 4 RBI) singled before Morneau went out on a Rondell White lineout double play. With Jason Tyner (3 for 4, 2 RBIs) at the plate, Hunter stole second, which turned out to be huge, because JT singled on a hard liner to right, bringing Torii home. After Jason Bartlett drew a walk, Luis Castillo (2 for 4, RBI) singled to left scoring Tyner but was caught stealing to end the inning.

After a scoreless third, Guerrier gave up a home run to Chachi Chavez (who appears to be Matt's new nemesis) in the fourth, giving the A's a 3-2 lead. The Twins came back in the bottom of the frame with a Rondell two-out double and a JT RBI single to knot the game.

Willie Eyre (5.73 ERA) started the fifth and immediately gave up a Dan Johnson home run. Anyone who remembers DJ's debut at the Dome last year knows this was just a matter of time. After a walk and a wild pitch, he walked the next two batters to load the bases. Enter Pat Neshek (2.35 ERA) who forced the Big Hurt to line out and Chachi to strike out swinging.

a day at the office for Jason Bartlett

Oakland ended up with a run off Neesh with a single by centerfielder Jay Payton and a line drive base hit by shortstop Marco Scutero. After single by catcher Jason Kendall, Jesse Crain (3.76 ERA) was brought in to end the inning with a ground out. He pitched a scoreless, one-hit seventh and then Denny Reyes (W 5-0, 1.02 ERA) allowed just one hit in the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth with rally caps on, Nick Punto started the inning with a base hit. With Joe Mauer (0 for 2, 2 BBs, run) at the plate, Joe Kennedy (L 4-1, ERA) threw a wild pitch allowing Punto to advance to second, even though he would end up there regardless due to a Mauer walk. Then Michael Cuddyer hit his 99th RBI on a ground rule double, moving Joe to third. Morneau then hit his 33rd double of the season, bringing in the go ahead run, giving Kennedy his 2nd blown save and the eventual loss.

Justin Duchscherer (3.24 ERA) was brought in to relieve Kennedy and he got two quick outs. The ball got away from Kendall on a swinging strike by Tyner, allowing Morneau to cruise home on the wild pitch, adding an insurance run before Bartlett lined out to end the scoring.

Joe Nathan (1.79 ERA) recorded his 32nd save of the year, pitching a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts. Minnesota picks up their 85th win in dramatic piranha fashion, remaining 1.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for the Division Lead Tuesday evening, with their 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers at US Cellular Field, after Carlos Guillen’s walk-off homer. The Twins also put another game between themselves and the Chicago White Sox after their 4-3 11th inning loss to the Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim).

VS.

The long-awaited return of Francisco Liriano (12-3, 2.19 ERA) is finally here. He will take the mound Wednesday afternoon on National television, against Dan Haren (13-11, 3.95 ERA) and the Athletics for the series finale. Although he is limited to a short pitch-count these days, Liriano should be able to give the A’s a run for their money and the Twins a good chance at another Oakland sweep.