Producing too little is hurting Twins a lot

Light hitting has left the team stuck in retreat mode, like the clubs it's chasing.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: August 10, 2007 - 11:54 AM

KANSAS CITY, MO. The Indians and Tigers are trying to play the Twins back into the playoff picture. They should know how tough that is going to be because they've seen the Twins' offense.

The Royals surely know, as they beat the Twins 1-0 on Thursday in a game in which the only run was driven in by the backup catcher. Kansas City won two of three games against the Twins, whose offensive inconsistencies are on the verge of costing them the postseason.

"We've got to come up with something," Twins outfielder Jason Kubel said.

And soon. Like during Thursday's plane ride to California, where the Twins have three games against the Angels, who have the second-best record in the American League. Then the next three games are at Seattle, which woke up Thursday as the wild-card leader.

The Twins are 13-13 since the All-Star break. Cleveland is 12-14. Detroit is 11-17.

The Twins are 5½ games back in the Central, and the division is being dangled in front of them.

But scenes of Twins runners left on base and the zeroes in the boxscores have become a blur.

The Twins have been shut out 11 times, three fewer than last season. On Thursday, Royals righthander Kyle Davies (1-0) baffled them for 6 2/3 innings while handing the Twins their fourth 1-0 loss of the season.

What made this one strange was that the Twins strutted out of Kauffman Stadium one night earlier with an 11-4 victory, thinking their scoring troubles were over.

"One of those days where you just kind of shake your head and wonder what's going on," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "You score that many last night. That's the way the game is. You come back [Thursday] and can't find a way to score a run."

It doesn't matter if the Twins lineup includes a defending batting champion in Joe Mauer, a defending Most Valuable Player in Justin Morneau and a center fielder who can hit 30 homers in Torii Hunter. Baserunners don't reach home plate on this team when there are baserunners. The Twins have the fewest runs in the majors since the All-Star break (83) and are 11th in the American League for the season (519).

Twins righthander Matt Garza held the Royals to one run over 62/3 innings but dropped to 1-3. The Royals scored the lone run in the third, when Tony Pena Jr. doubled to left, was bunted over to third and came home on Jason LaRue's sacrifice fly to center.

Mauer was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, including a huge at-bat in the eighth when Kansas City manager Buddy Bell brought in lefthander Jimmy Gobble, who got him to pop out with two on and one out.

"I had the pitches to hit," Mauer said. "Just didn't do anything with them."

He was not alone. The Twins' No. 3 through 6 hitters were 1-for-12. Cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer's past seven plate appearances: four strikeouts, two double plays and being thrown out while trying to stretch a single into a double.

There was no carryover from Wednesday.

"It's the story of the season to this point," Gardenhire said. "We can't back up days."

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

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