YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
twins/mlb
Twins: It was that kind of season
- Article by: Joe Christensen , Star Tribune
- Updated: September 26, 2007 - 11:24 PM
Johan Santana's final start of 2007 was shortened to three innings because of a lengthy rain delay in Detroit.
- 0
- comments
resize text 
- buy reprints
DETROIT - Inside Twins circles, there have been no hints of a possible Johan Santana trade this offseason. Not even whispers that they're willing to take offers.
But if they make that unexpected move, the last start of his glorious Minnesota career will be remembered for ending too soon.
Santana made his final start of 2007 on Wednesday, and rain shortened it to three innings, jeopardizing his chances at winning a fourth consecutive American League strikeout crown.
The Detroit Tigers defeated the Twins 9-4 at Comerica Park, as the game was called in the sixth inning after a second rain delay.
Moments after the game was called, the Yankees defeated Tampa Bay, officially eliminating the Tigers from playoff contention.
It was a night for many endings, actually.
The Twins are 77-81 heading into a final four-game series with Boston, so the best they can finish is .500. This loss ended their streak of six consecutive winning seasons.
Santana left after a 78-minute rain delay, with the Twins leading 4-3 heading into the fourth inning.
"He's pitched a lot of innings," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's done what he had to do."
In some ways, it was a fitting end to Santana's frustrating season. The two-time Cy Young Award winner finished 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA.
The Twins, who struggled to score runs in so many of his 33 starts, gave him a 4-0 lead in the first inning this time, but Detroit rallied for three runs in the second inning, despite getting just one hit.
Santana walked three batters that inning, but the key play was an error by second baseman Alexi Casilla.
Nick Blackburn relieved Santana after that rain delay, and the Tigers erupted for six runs.
Santana recorded four strikeouts, raising his AL lead to 235.
Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir is second with 229, and he'll make his final start tonight against New York.
Santana had pitched at least five innings in 123 consecutive starts, but the rain spoiled that streak, too.
"Sooner or later it was going to end," Santana said. "It's too bad it had to end this way, but you can't control Mother Nature. So you just start another one this year."
The question is, for whom? The rumors have only begun.
- 0
- comments
- resize text
- buy reprints
explore the Twins/MLB
ADVERTISEMENT
| LA Lakers | 88 | FINAL |
| Boston | 87 |
| Golden State | 109 | FINAL |
| Denver | 101 |
| Houston | 96 | FINAL |
| Phoenix | 89 |
| Oklahoma City | 101 | FINAL |
| Sacramento | 106 |
| St. Louis | 4 | FINAL(SO) |
| New Jersey | 3 |
| Montreal | 4 | FINAL |
| NY Islanders | 2 |
| Tampa Bay | 3 | FINAL(OT) |
| NY Rangers | 4 |
| Toronto | 3 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia | 4 |
| Winnipeg | 3 | FINAL(SO) |
| Washington | 2 |
| Dallas | 4 | FINAL |
| Columbus | 2 |
| Nashville | 3 | FINAL |
| Ottawa | 4 |
| Los Angeles | 1 | FINAL |
| Florida | 3 |
| Vancouver | 5 | FINAL |
| Minnesota | 2 |
| Calgary | 1 | FINAL(OT) |
| Phoenix | 2 |
| (21) Wisconsin | 68 | FINAL |
| Minnesota | 61 |
| Ole Miss | 60 | FINAL |
| (20) Miss State | 70 |
| Illinois | 71 | FINAL |
| (23) Indiana | 84 |
| Tennessee St | 72 | FINAL |
| (9) Murray State | 68 |
| (16) St Marys-CA | 59 | FINAL |
| Gonzaga | 73 |
| Old Dominion | 63 | FINAL |
| (12) Delaware | 76 |
| Wisconsin | 54 | FINAL |
| (18) Penn State | 69 |
| (5) Duke | 71 | FINAL |
| Boston College | 62 |
| (8) Maryland | 91 | FINAL |
| Clemson | 61 |
| Detroit | 70 | FINAL |
| (9) Green Bay | 58 |
| (10) Ohio State | 65 | FINAL |
| Illinois | 66 |
| (24) South Carolina | 47 | FINAL |
| Arkansas | 68 |
| Michigan | 63 | FINAL |
| (13) Nebraska | 52 |
| U-S-C | 52 | FINAL |
| (4) Stanford | 69 |
| (19) Gonzaga | 40 | FINAL |
| B-Y-U | 70 |
| (11) Tennessee | 79 | FINAL |
| Vanderbilt | 93 |
- Hughes has MRI on right shoulder, out for 3-4 weeks
- Twins cut Vasquez to make room for Mastroianni
- Souhan blog: Sampson's career: It is what it is
- TwinsCentric: So thirsty for relief
- Twins claim minor-league outfielder from Blue Jays
- Souhan blog: Wolves reach a milestone
- Alderson: 'Big fundraiser tonight for gas money'
ADVERTISEMENT
inside the StarTribune
-
425 Portland Av. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
(612) 673-4000
- Company
- Subscriber Services
- Website
- Buy Ads
- Store
- Connect with Us
© 2012 StarTribune. All rights reserved.
StarTribune.com is powered by Limelight Networks
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters
