twin042006

StarTribune.com content is available via e-mail, mobile devices and as RSS feeds.

Mobile content

Advertise with us

Home | Sports | Twins

Twins 12, L.A. Angels 10 (10)

The pinch-hitter's smash to right-center capped yet another comeback, this one after a ragged pitching performance.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: April 20, 2006 - 3:57 AM

Find the person who predicted the Twins' starting pitching staff would have a 7.05 ERA to start the season, and they'll show you the person who predicted a comeback like the one they made Wednesday night.

Amazing how it works, sometimes.

Kyle Lohse puts the Twins in a huge hole against the Los Angeles Angels.

They come back to tie it with two outs in the ninth inning against closer Francisco Rodriguez, and then win 12-10 in the 10th when Michael Cuddyer connects for a two-run homer off former Twins reliever J.C. Romero.

By the time the Twins stopped celebrating around Cuddyer at home plate, before an announced crowd of 21,507 at the Metrodome, Lohse's struggles seemed forgotten.

Or, at least forgiven.

"That was a nice win for us," Cuddyer said. "It kind of reminds us of a couple years ago, when we never gave up until the last out. We felt like we were always in the game."

The Twins have a reason to believe it again this year.

They are 7-7, and they've had to come from behind for every win.

But this one went above and beyond the other six.

Down 9-4, the Twins scored four runs in the sixth inning, chasing Angels starter Ervin Santana.

The Angels made it 10-8 in the seventh, but Torii Hunter homered, trimming the lead back to one.

Leading 10-9 in the ninth, the Angels turned to Rodriguez, the wunderkind closer from Venezuela.

The Twins immediately loaded the bases, but Rodriguez promptly retired Justin Morneau and Tony Batista for the next two outs.

It was like Saturday night revisited, when the Twins put runners at second at third with no outs against New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

That time, Rivera got two quick outs before Morneau won it with a broken bat single. This time, Lew Ford worked the count full, and watched a slider in the dirt for ball four. Tie game.

The Twins used closer Joe Nathan to pitch a scoreless 10th, and in came Romero, who had turned some heads with his old teammates recently when he said the Angels bullpen is the best he's ever been a part of.

Luis Castillo drew a one-out walk, stole second base and was standing on third with two outs.

With Nick Punto due up, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire turned to Cuddyer.

"He's seen [Romero]," Gardenhire said of Cuddyer. "He's played behind him a number of times, and he knows what he's going to try to do."

Cuddyer looked at the first strike. With a 0-1 count, Romero tried a change-up. Cuddyer hit it over the center field wall.

"Hey fellas, I'm going to make a statement," Romero said. "This is not about J.C. and the Twins. Losing [stinks]. It wouldn't matter if it was the Yankees or Tampa Bay."

Time lapse of Twins stadium

One year ago this week, the first Web cam image of the new Twins ballpark construction site was taken. Today, the Twins released a one minute time lapse movie of how the construction has progressed over the past year.

Snow doesn't dampen opening day spirit

Twins fans and players alike shrugged off the snow for opening day and heralded the arrival of the baseball season.

Twins video player card: Mike Redmond

Twins catcher Mike Redmond talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Final of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Boof Bonser

Twins pitcher Boof Bonser talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Eighth of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Nick Punto

Twins infielder Nick Punto talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Sixth of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Justin Morneau

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Fifth of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Brendan Harris

Twins second baseman Brendan Harris talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Fourth of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Adam Everett

Twins shortstop Adam Everett talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Third of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Mike Lamb

Twins third baseman Mike Lamb talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. Second of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Twins video player card: Joe Mauer

Twins catcher Joe Mauer talks about his hopes for the season and how things are going this spring. First of nine in a series leading up to Opening Day.

Training camp: The battle for second base

Twins coach Ron Gardenhire is looking for Nick Punto to improve offensively and for Brendan Harris to be patient at the plate, but the competition for second base is close.

5-7-5: Twins are poets, don't 'cha know it?

Assorted Minnesota Twins read reader-submitted Haiku with flair ... or not.

Cuddyer is ready to lead the Twins

Michael Cuddyer says he's probably a natural fit to lead the team since he's got the most experience with the organization.

Who's going to make Twins roster?

Baseball writers La Velle E. Neal III and Joe Christensen think Wednesday's lineup against Boston features the A-listers or as close as it can be given the tough competition.