Franklin Gutierrez Topic Page
Can't win them all
The Twins opened the final season in the Metrodome with a 6-1 loss to Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners. Hernandez and Francisco Liriano dueled through the first five innings, but the game began to deteriorate in the bottom of the fifth inning when the Twins turned a bases loaded, no outs, situation into just 1 run after Justin Morneau grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the sixth, Franklin Gutierrez slipped a 2-run homerun just past the outstretched glove of Carlos Gomez in center field, and a sloppy bullpen surrendered two more runs in the ninth.
It wasn't an all-bad night. Liriano actually pitched well, despite a few costly mistakes. 3 of his 4 runs surrendered came on long-balls, but he still made it through 7 innings on just 93 pitches. He allowed just 4 hits and 0 walks.
Mariners @ Twins Opener - Lineups
Via Twins Now here are tonight's lineups. Delmon Young sits.
Minnesota Twins
- Denard Span, CF
- Alexi Casilla, 2B
- Michael Cuddyer, RF
- Justin Morneau, 1B
- Jason Kubel, DH
- Joe Crede, 3B
- Carlos Gomez, CF
- Mike Redmond, C
- Nick Punto, SS
Twins take rare loss with Santana starting
Santana was on the mound for the Twins on Friday night, and for many that's all you need to know to realize what the outcome of the game will be. When Santana pitches, it's usually a win, but not on Friday night. Johan got hit around early. He gave up a 2-run homer in the first and also allowed a run in the second and fourth innings. After that he was back to his dominant self. Santana faced the minimum in the fifth through eighth innings.