Ex-Twin executes shutout

Royals lefthander Mark Redman's soft tosses kept Minnesota off balance and off the scoreboard to overshadow rookie Matt Garza's best start to date.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: August 30, 2006 - 12:14 AM

Royals lefthander Mark Redman broke in with the Twins in 1999. Even as a youngster, Redman showed he was a pitcher, not a thrower.

On Tuesday night, Redman was a wild card crusher, silencing the Twins' bats as Kansas City beat them 2-0 before an announced 24,904 at the Metrodome. The Twins' four-day hold on the American League wild card lead is over, as the Chicago White Sox beat Tampa Bay 12-9 to move back on top by a half game. The Twins wasted 72/3 strong innings from rookie righthander Matt Garza (1-3) in his best outing in four starts.

The Twins also are 5½ games behind the Detroit Tigers, whose game with the New York Yankees was postponed by rain. All this thanks to Redman; he threw his first complete game in 122 starts in the American League.

Mysteriously, the Twins have lost their past four home games after coming back from a road trip. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argued against his team having the blahs.

"What stops anything from getting any momentum is the pitcher on the other side not giving us anybody on base," Gardenhire said. "We had nothing to stand up and cheer about."

Indeed. Redman (8-8) scattered five hits while striking out three. His fastball was in the mid-80s, but he had Twins hitters off balance and trying to pull outside pitches.

"It was the best I've ever seen him pitch," Twins designated hitter Rondell White said. "He changed speeds. Threw his curveballs for strikes. And that changeup. It was right there, and then it would fall out of the zone."

Even more perplexing was that Redman entered the game with 52 walks in 1291/3 innings -- and didn't walk a batter.

"A lot of first-pitch strikes [18]," Gardenhire said. "A lot of 1-2 counts. All night long."

Redman, winless in his previous six starts, has been tinkering with a cut fastball. He threw several Tuesday.

"It kept them off everything away," Redman said. "It worked out really good."

Redman was a first-round pick by the Twins in 1995 and went 12-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 2000 for them but was dealt to Detroit for Todd Jones in 2001. Redman has been with four other teams since, winning a World Series in 2003 while with the Marlins.

"I have no vendetta against this team," Redman said. "They gave me an opportunity to play pro baseball. It's always nice just to get a win.

"I think it's more getting a win against these guys because they are a top team, and they are in the midst of leading the wild card."

WILD CARD

Chicago --

Twins ½

Boston 6

AL CENTRAL

Detroit --

Chicago 5

Twins 5½

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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