twin062806

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

Mobile content

Advertise with us

Home | Sports | Twins

Twins 9, Dodgers 2

With Joe Mauer at the plate and Francisco Liriano on the mound, the Dodgers had no chance Tuesday night.

By Jeff Shelman, Star Tribune

Last update: June 28, 2006 - 7:05 AM

Nearly 45 minutes had passed since the Twins' 9-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers was complete Tuesday night when Jason Bartlett made his way toward Joe Mauer's corner locker in the Minnesota clubhouse.

"Hey Joe," Bartlett said. "Can you drop me off on the way home?"

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Mauer really does do everything.

All he did on this night was go 5-for-5 for the first time in his career, raise his batting average to a major league-leading .389 and drive the carpool. Over the past two nights, he has gone 9-for-10 with six RBI, all the time acting like it's no big deal.

"I just felt good tonight," said Mauer, who is hitting .469 over the past 32 games. "It was good to get another win. Frankie [Francisco Liriano] did a great job again tonight, and I just saw the ball well again."

Others in the Twins clubhouse, however, know just how impressive Mauer's recent hitting has been. He's the first Twins player to get four or more hits in consecutive games in nearly 18 years. The last to accomplish that feat? A dude named Kirby Puckett.

"I don't even know how to describe it anymore," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who joked that Mauer's uptick is the result of dating former Miss USA Chelsea Cooley. "It's pretty incredible the swings he's putting on the ball.

"He's on everything you throw. It's a pretty good performance."

Dodgers starter and 10-year big league pitcher Derek Lowe was impressed with what he saw from Mauer.

"Whatever we're doing, it isn't working," said Lowe, who is now 1-4 with a 6.43 ERA in 20 career games against the Twins. "For not seeing him in a long time, he's as good a hitter right now as there is in the game."

Mauer singled in the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth innings. The second-inning single was part of a six-run inning that broke open the game and determined the outcome. The Cretin-Derham Hall graduate received loud and long standing ovations after his fourth and fifth hits.

"After I got the fourth one, I stood on first base and [first base coach Jerry White] said, 'What, is that, your 3,000th?' " Mauer said. "I was just trying to get on base, and it was a good night."

It was a performance that overshadowed another very good start from Liriano. The two youngsters -- neither was born when the Metrodome opened in 1982 -- were so good that Gardenhire taped a sign to his office door for reporters that pointed toward the lockers of Mauer and Liriano and featured the line, "You don't need me."

Liriano has been consistently impressive since moving into the starting rotation last month. On this night he gave up only two runs -- both solo homers -- on five hits.

Mix in Tuesday's performance with Liriano's three previous starts, and he's 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA. He also hasn't allowed a team to score more than two runs against him in that stretch. Since moving into the starting rotation, the lefthander is 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA.

He, like Mauer, makes it look much easier than it really is.

"We all know it's not easy in this league ... for two young men to go out there and do what they're doing, it's pretty incredible," Gardenhire said.

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.