Oakland Athletics Topic Page

The Twins won their second consecutive game against the Oakland Athletics thanks to a 9th inning comeback sparked by the bottom of the Twins' lineup. The inning started with the score tied 3-3 and a Joe Crede triple. 2 singles, 2 walks and 2 wild pitches later the Twins had a 3-run lead with Alexi Casilla (pinch runner for Crede), Delmon Young and Matt Tolbert all scoring.

Jason Kubel had hit a pinch-hit home run for Carlos Gomez in the eighth inning to tie the game. With Denard Span out of the game with illness, it made for an interesting defensive alignment in the final two innings. Delmon Young started the game in LF. Michael Cuddyer had started the game in RF, and was moved over to CF to replace Gomez defensively. Kubel played in RF. Could that possibly be the worst defensive OF the Twins have ever put on the field?

Just about everything went right for the Twins on Tuesday night against the Oakland Athletics...until the 9th inning. The Twins scored 10 runs and Scott Baker had allowed just 2 hits and 0 walks through 8 innings. He came back out for the 9th inning, and things fell apart.

Baker loaded the bases with 2 hits and a walk with no outs. Jesse Crain was called upon to relieve him. Crain allowed a hit and a walk, then an Alexi Casilla error allowed another run to score. Crain wasn't able to retire a batter before Jose Mijares had to be called upon. Mijares struck out Jason Giambi, but then walked the next two batters.

Monday night may have been Anthony Swarzak's last start for a while anyway, but his 4th inning meltdown against the Oakland Athletics probably sealed the deal. Glen Perkins is scheduled to pitch his second rehab start tonight and would be eligible to return to the team this weekend againt the Cubs.

In the 4th inning Swarzak couldn't get a ball over the plate. He walked the first two batters of the inning on 8 straight balls. Brendan Harris made a diving stop and threw out Matt Holliday at 3rd, which was a huge play at the time. Unfortunately Swarzak hit the next batter, Aaron Cunningham in the side of the helmet, knocking him out of the game. Swarzak allowed a double, retired a second batter and then walked another before Luis Ayala was called upon to relieve him.

Arguably the greatest regular season in Twins history is over and the Twins find themselves hosting the Oakland Athletics rather than playing in New York. It's the playoffs, so there's no saying what will happen. One thing is for certain though: Minnesota workplace productivity will drop to an all time low in this first week of October.

In Baseball, you'd rather be playing well in the month of September than in April, so you have some momentum going into the playoffs. However, when it comes to making the playoffs, April games count just as much as those in September. The first few weeks of the Twins' season could prove to be pretty important when it comes to how the season is going to turn out. Let's take a look at the tough matchups they'll be facing right away.