Detroit at Twins. Twins 6, Tigers 5

In Joe Mauer's MLB debut, he had two hits and two walks. The next day, he had another hit before he, well…you know...

In his comeback, he didn't do nearly as well; from Wednesday's start through his first three at bats today, he hadn't yet had a hit. So when he came up today in the eighth with two outs and two on, after the Tigers had tied it up in the top of the inning, one could not help but wish for Joe Mauer I instead of Joe Mauer II.

But guess what? Joe Mauer I and Joe Mauer II are the same person! Really! And this person, this barely legal person, hit the birthday hell out of the ball to give the Twins their first series win since…oh hell I don't know, forever…?

For the first few innings, it looked like the Twins were up to their old tricks again. You know. The popping and/or grounding-out-on-the-first-pitch and leaving-people-on-base and not-scoring-any-runs sort of tricks. Detroit pitcher Nate Robertson required only 10 pitches to get through the Twins first five innings. Silva, meanwhile--despite a propensity for putting the first batter on each inning--was wearing his Carlos the Jackal face today (as opposed to his alter-ego, Carlos-the-Hyde) but it seemed like it might again go for naught as the Tigers led 2-0 in the sixth and the Twins seemed like they just wanted to hurry up and get the loss over with in order to get to Batgirl's birthday bash.

The Party's Just Starting!

Or they did, until Luscious Lew Ford decided the party would be a lot better with a win, and he took an 0-1 pitch in the sixth and sent it back to Batgirl's last birthday. It was a two-run homer to tie the game that snapped a 14-inning scoreless streak for the Twins, and for a moment, things didn't look so desperate. Might we win this one? Matthew LeCroy certainly seemed to think so. Two batters after Ford, he decided to forsake his usual infield single for a solo homer to give the Twins the lead. (When LeCroy hits homers, everyone wins: We get a run, and he doesn't have to run so hard.)

This was all Silva needed. He lasted until there were two outs in the eighth; Gardy put in J.C. Romero with one on to get the last out. Well, Romero gave up a single instead (and wove an impressive tapestry of expletives) and suddenly the game was tied at three.

And then, I had doubts; I did. A month ago, I would have been certain we'd come back, but now it didn't seem we could handle this sort of emotional trauma. I mean we'd had the lead. And then we lost it. You don't just come back from that!

And then, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and no one on, Alan Trammel changed pitchers for the third time in the inning. I think there's something about the name "Esteban Yan" that just inspires you. I mean, say it! Esteban Yan. It's a birthday present all on its own. Torii Hunter was inspired; he hit a beautiful double to right. Then Yan beaned LeCroy in the wrist. And then, up came Joe. He had no hits since he came off the DL, no extra base hits at all, and, well, boom. Into the wild blue Yan-der. Happy Birthday Batgirl.

Oh, the ninth inning didn't exactly go well, but we squeaked by anyway. And you can hardly blame Joe Nathan for being a little rusty; it was his first save situation since Passover. He just needs to get back in gear. We all do...I think the best way to start would be to win two-in-a-row. Hell, it's a new year!

Posted by Batgirl at June 6, 2004 04:53 PM