Twins at Boston. Twins 4, Red Sox 3.
Clearly, there is something amiss. Despite an ERA under 2.00 in his last six games, Brad Radke has not won a game since May 22. In the month of June, Radke was 0-1 coming into today’s game. The loss came June 2, against the freakin’ Devil Rays, and isn’t worth further discussion. His next start, Radke pitched a spotless game against Tom Glavine and the Mets—but Glavine was spotless-er and Radke left behind 1-0. The Twins came back to win that game in the ninth. (Boo Berry got the win in that start, which marked the beginning of his Reign of Terror.)
Next, Brad phaced the Phillies, and the Twins managed just one run for him against Paul Abbott (who had been released the week before by the freakin’ Devil Rays) and left 11 on base. Radke got a no decision and the Twins lost disgracefully, 2-1.
Then it was Miller time—or excuse me, Brewer Time. You may remember the game. You may still see replays from it when you close you eyes at night. The Twins finally gave Brad Radke some runs (five to be precise) but in the seventh some combination of a tiring Radke, a Corey Koskie error, and a big Aaron Fultz pitching boo-boo gave those runs right back, plus one.
So, today, was it any surprise when, after holding a 3-1 lead into the seventh, Radke suddenly found himself with another no-decision? After a shaky first inning (including the requisite homer to Ortiz), Radke had had the Sox fairly befuddled—until that blasted seventh when he found himself with runners on second and third with two outs. Aaron Fultz came in to get Ortiz, and Ortiz in turn got Fultz; he hit a two-run double, and the game was tied.
It didn’t look good. Boo was all Berried out after yesterday’s two inning awesomeness, Joe Roa was still in a corner rocking and muttering to himself after Tuesday’s game, and Terry Mulholland, well, maybe pitting him against the likes of Manny Ramirez isn’t the best idea ever; it would put him over the edge for good. Our patched-together bullpen against these Sox?
So, in came Balfour—and Batgirl worried. She did. Batgirl’s given a lot of sass to Grant Balfour over the course of the season, and she still believes he’s not quite ready for prime time. But the Twins have a big hole in their schedule right now—and, lo and behold, today Balfour became Must See TV. He got Ramirez to ground out for the last out in the seventh, gave up a single in the eighth but then set them down, and was Balfourific in the ninth, striking out two.
Oh, it was a fun game to win. Usually, when the Twins play an extra inning game, they fail to do anything until the 15th or 16th. But to win this one, we needed to score in the top of the 10th, so we could bring in Nathan and then get on the plane and fly Dome-ward. And, strangely enough, we did score. Guzie got a lead-off single, then reached second on a throwing error, Offerman laid down a beautiful bunt, and Lew Ford sacrificed Guzie in.
The Twins won; even if Radke didn’t. It can’t be helped. He’s obviously offended some kind of minor deity or evil sprite, and until he makes amends, he will continue to suffer. Can anyone help Radke find his mojo?
Posted by Batgirl at June 24, 2004 03:58 PMel diablo's suggestion still stands:
Change Brad Radke's name to RAD BRADKE!
Posted by: el diablo at June 24, 2004 04:12 PM
does anyone else think it rocks to saskatoon and back that the twins won at fenway with doug, cordel, jacque and joe on the bench -- not to mention mr. gimpy shannon still on the disabled list? makes me wanna roll down the windows, pump up the bass and play the ludacris cover of "win twins" over and over and over.
Ah c'mon, Cordel hip-checked Blanco. What the hell was that all about?
Posted by: Mimiru at June 24, 2004 04:29 PMOK, all those guys, including our favorite hoser, weren't in the starting lineup, eh. RD stands slightly corrected and still thinks it rocks.
Posted by: RonDavis at June 24, 2004 04:37 PMA perfect recap, Batgirl. There's nothing like taking a series from a really good team - and to do it just like we've taken every other series, with equal parts Divine Mandate (dumbluck) and cable cop-show grit (small ball), well, that's something else entirely.
Is there anything we can do to get L.E.W. F.O.R.D. on the All-Star ticket?
Posted by: Haplo at June 24, 2004 04:43 PMDear Mr. Davis,
You are absolutely right. In fact, the Twins now have the same record as the BoSox. Batgirl is extremely proud of her boys.
As for Cordel, he's a hockey player. He can't help it.
Sincerely,
Batgirl
Update: They changed the scoring on the Nomar error. Took the hit away from Guzman and ruled it a 2-base error.
Posted by: Boo at June 24, 2004 04:48 PMFirst, a minor correction, Ortiz hit off Fultz was a single, as he was too busy celebrating to go to 2nd when Torii fumbled the ball. I ought to know, I was there, surrounded by cheering Red sox fans.Now, I 'd like to say a few disjointed words on the idea of run differential rendering our heroes lucky. 1. They don't hit much or score much, so they seldom win by 9 or 10 or 18 runs. 2. When they are losing by 6 or more late, and the opposing pitcher is "letting them hit the ball", they don't hit the ball; they take wild swings, like they have seen the big people do, and stike out a lot, or they run the bases funny and remove themselves from scoring position as quickly as possible. 21/2. when down by 6 or more middle to late, they bring in the worst pitcher available to them, and he promptly shows why they feel that way about him. 3.When it's late, and close. they play little bitty ball and endeavor to insure that they will score no more than 1 run.The bitch Sox, Red Sox, Yanks, Rangers, Orioles, Satanic Rays, and others go for 3 run home runs, and, when down say 10 to three after 7,hey go on to lose 16 to 11; whereas the Twins, down 10 to 3 after 7, tend to lose 15 to 3.All teams do these things to a point, but the Twins have made a science of it. I had a bunch of stats and equations proving all these things, but my dog, you know, ate them.You can't get much more scientific than that, or, at least, I can't. Al
Posted by: al at June 24, 2004 06:33 PMYou know all I am all for the Twins losing by 20-1 and winning by 2-1 as long as the do the 2-1 thing 92 times a year. It conserves their strength.
Of course, in the playoffs they can't AFFORD to lose 20-1 but I'm talking regular season here.
Posted by: Mimiru at June 24, 2004 10:31 PMEveryone should take note of Al's comments on how the Twins err when losing in the game. It was clever and learned. But...one wonders if other teams' fans feel the same way about their clubs. It could be a case of a fan emphasizing the negative and forgetting the times when things went just fine.
And negativity is a source of pride to Minnesotans.
Is it just me, or has Balfour's two best games this year come under pressure cooker type situations?
Maybe he's terrible in the mop up role, but throw him in there in a tie game with runners on 1st and 3rd and one out*, and let's see what we gots.
* only if Boo or the Count are tired
Posted by: Drake33 at June 25, 2004 02:41 PM