Carlos Silva (9-13, 6.08 ERA) tossed seven good innings Monday night against the Oakland A's, allowing only 1 run on 5 hits, walking one and striking out one. For Silva to dominate like that is a really good sign for this ballclub. His sinker was finally back in action, as he recorded 13 ground outs in the game. Much of this recent success for Carlos on the mound is due to a change of the way he grips the ball. The Twins have been in desperate need for a few of their starters to buck up and suck it up. Silva showed that even after a tummy ache, he could bounce back and show the opposing team who's boss.The offense helped out too, of course. After Frank Thomas blasted his sixth home run in as many games with a solo shot to left-center in the top of the fourth, the Twins got Silva out of a hole. Michael Cuddyer (2 for 5, 4 RBIs) led the comeback, hitting a two-run shot (22) in the bottom of the frame. He later added a two-run double in the eighth.
Cuddy hits number 22
A three-run sixth helped open the Twins' lead to 6-1, as Torii Hunter (2 for 5, 2 RBIs) homered to straight center leading off the inning before Nick Punto (2 for 5, 2 RBIs) added a two-run single.
It was all lookin good from there, with the game in the bullpen's hands and a nice lead. Dennys Reyes (1.04 ERA) pitched 21.1 innings without allowing a run until the eighth when he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in just 1/3 of an inning, pulling the A's to within three. After Joe Nathan (1.82 ERA) came in to record the final out of the eighth, Cuddy and Hunter drove in three more runs to really bust the game wide open.
Since Scott Sauerback beaned Joe Mauer (1 for 3) with a pitch between his shoulder blades in the eighth, I don't see why Nathan didn't just graze somebody in the top of the ninth. He ended up putting three men on anyway. But he was able to pitch out of the situation, and record his 31st save of the season, while giving Gardy and the rest of us some minor heart issues.
The Twins pick up their 84th victory, and shave off another half game from the Detroit Tigers' divisional lead, as they had the day off Monday. The Chicago White Sox remained a game and a half behind Minnesota with their 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
It was all lookin good from there, with the game in the bullpen's hands and a nice lead. Dennys Reyes (1.04 ERA) pitched 21.1 innings without allowing a run until the eighth when he allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in just 1/3 of an inning, pulling the A's to within three. After Joe Nathan (1.82 ERA) came in to record the final out of the eighth, Cuddy and Hunter drove in three more runs to really bust the game wide open.
Since Scott Sauerback beaned Joe Mauer (1 for 3) with a pitch between his shoulder blades in the eighth, I don't see why Nathan didn't just graze somebody in the top of the ninth. He ended up putting three men on anyway. But he was able to pitch out of the situation, and record his 31st save of the season, while giving Gardy and the rest of us some minor heart issues.
The Twins pick up their 84th victory, and shave off another half game from the Detroit Tigers' divisional lead, as they had the day off Monday. The Chicago White Sox remained a game and a half behind Minnesota with their 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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