Twins: Garza gets first home victory

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 20, 2007 - 1:19 AM

Matt Garza's latest attempt to end his 0-for-the-Dome streak didn't begin well Wednesday. Rangers leadoff hitter Frank Catalanotto homered on Garza's fourth pitch of the game, giving Texas an early lead.

Garza, the Twins' top pitching prospect, entered the day winless in 11 previous Metrodome starts, and it looked like that run was going to continue.

But Garza adjusted, hit the outside corner more frequently and watched his offense come back for a 4-2 victory, completing a three-game sweep of the Rangers. The four runs were the most run support Garza has ever received at home.

Catalanotto homered off of a slider after struggling to catch up with fastballs. While Garza (4-6) wants to show he can mix his pitches, he also has to read how hitters react and adjust accordingly. The plan: Dominate with the fastball, get hitters all wound up, then go to breaking balls later.

"Don't try to overpitch people," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "If they aren't catching up to your fastball, you don't have to slow your ball down and let them catch up to a slider."

The Twins scored a run in each of the first three innings, including Michael Cuddyer's home run in the third, which gave them a 3-1 lead. Jason Kubel added a solo homer in the seventh.

Garza also was working too fast early, but his composure improved after the first two innings as he retired 12 batters in a row. He left the game in the seventh with one out and one on.

"I just slowed my mechanics down," Garza said. "I was just rushing toward the plate. We talked about it all week. I'm in control when I'm out there, but I haven't been acting like it. I've been trying to get the ball over the plate as fast as possible. The game doesn't start until I release that ball."

Just another night of development for Garza.

More sinkers, fewer K's

Joe Nathan struck out 95 batters in 68 1/3 innings last season. After getting two strikeouts on Wednesday, he has 71 in 67 1/3 innings this year.

Yet, the radar gun at the Dome has reported Nathan's velocity at 94-96 miles per hour, just as in past years.

What gives?

Nathan historically has finished off batters with his nasty slider, but he noticed early this season that they were getting comfortable swinging at it. To stay one step ahead, he tinkered with a sinking fastball in May and began using it in games.

"If I feel a guy is cheating toward that pitch, I can go to the sinker," said Nathan, who used the sinker to earn his 34th save of 2007.

What is odd is that he can throw the sinker as hard as his standard fastball.

"A lot of my sinkers have been harder than my four-seamer [fastball]," Nathan said. "I threw one [Tuesday] that I actually [saw] it at 96. I don't know if it's arm angle or how it's coming out of my hand, but it's a pitch I can consistently throw pretty hard."

Catcher Joe Mauer has encouraged Nathan to throw the sinker whenever he wants. "Geez, I think it's nasty," Mauer said.

Etc.

• With 58 between them, Justin Morneau (30) and Torii Hunter (28) are fourth in the AL in home runs hit by two teammates. New York's Alex Rodriguez (52) and Hideki Matsui (25) led with 77. Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena (40) and B.J. Upton (24) are at 64; Chicago's Jim Thome (30) and Paul Konerko (29) are at 59.

• Kubel is batting .351 with three homers and 17 RBI since Aug. 22.

• Hunter drew three walks on Wednesday, only the second time in his career he has walked three times in a game.

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

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