Continued: Blyleven reaches 3,000 K's, Puckett hits for cycle (August 2, 1986)

"When he struck out the 3,000th, I was screaming at (catcher Tim)
Laudner, making sure he got out there before Bert pitched to the next
hitter," said manager Ray Miller. "It's 4-0 and this guy gets a hit and
the next guy gets a hit and they're right back in the ball game. You
want him to enjoy it, but you also know the guy's heart is pumping and
you don't want him to lose track of what's happening. I was thinking,
`Let's get this guy out and celebrate later."'

Blyleven (10-10, 4.51) walked Mickey Tettleton to load the bases,
but Griffin grounded into a fielder's choice.

"I remember when I pitched my 3,500th inning when I was with
Cleveland, (Harry) Spilman hit a home run when he was going to be the
final out of the inning," Blyleven recalled. "That kind of took some
of the excitement out of it. When I got the (3,000th) strikeout, I
didn't want to give up a run because I didn't want to take anything
away from it."

The Twins scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, leaving
Blyleven's strikeout and hit totals and Puckett's cycle bid to be the
only mysteries. Puckett tripled in the first, doubled in the fifth and
singled in the sixth before coming up with one out in the eighth and
Steve Lombardozzi at first base. Puckett was in a similar situation,
needing a homer for the cycle, Tuesday against Seattle. He struck out.

This time, he lined a pitch from Darrell Akerfelds well into the
left-field seats, becoming the first Twin to hit for the cycle since
Gary Ward did it at Milwaukee on Sept. 18, 1980.

"The guys were a little disappointed in me last time and Neal
Heaton said to me, `Puck, you're going to hit for the cycle this
time,"' Puckett said. "I said, `We'll see.' I was looking to hit the
ball hard, but not a home run. It was a slider and I got it. It was
good to have it happen. It was good for me to be able to share the day
with Bert. That's the best pitching exhibition I've seen in my life. A
great job."

Watching from center field was an easy job; Puckett did not have
to touch a ball. In addition to the strikeouts, there were nine
infielder grounders, two fly balls to left fielder Billy Beane and one
to right fielder Tom Brunansky. "I didn't have to do anything," Puckett
said. "It was a nice night. I'm glad I didn't have to face Bert."

Phillips did. The Oakland leadoff batter struck out three times
and grounded out. Donnie Hill struck out three times; Canseco, Davis,
Murphy and Tettleton did it twice each and Bochte once.

"You didn't know what to look for," Phillips said. "He kept me
off-balance all game. Usually during the course of a game, you can look
for one pitch and you'll get it. But we didn't. Plus, I think he was a
little pumped up going for 3,000. I knew he was going to get me the
last time up. I didn't have a prayer."

Blyleven, one of six active pitchers with more than 3,000
strikeouts, said that reaching the plateau "shows consistency and
longevity and I've always admired guys who can pitch 15 or 20 years and
be consistent. That's basically what I want out of my career. There are
going to be good times and there are going to be bad times."

Recent Twins stories

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - May 9, 2008

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - Johnny Damon soaked it all in as he shared a float with first-timers Nick Swisher and Jerry Hairston Jr. for the New York Yankees' championship parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Friday. The whole scene made him a little wistful. More