Blame for latest Twins loss hits close to home

A bucket of missed opportunities to score left the Twins pointing inward -- and outward -- after dropping the series finale in Cleveland.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: August 7, 2009 - 8:22 AM

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CLEVELAND - The words weren't spoken viciously or angrily, but the Twins took a few subtle digs at one another Thursday afternoon after their 2-1 loss to Cleveland at Progressive Field.

Justin Morneau called Alexi Casilla's second-inning strikeout the difference in the game. Casilla pointed to a bad call by the umpire early in that at-bat.

Manager Ron Gardenhire described failed at-bats by Casilla and Mike Redmond as fundamental lapses. Redmond cited some numbers, explaining why Fausto Carmona was a tough assignment for him in the first place.

Deep down, they all knew they shouldered blame. Losing two of three to a team decimated by trades dropped the Twins 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Tigers heading into a three-game series in Detroit.

The Twins went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position; they went 0-for-7 in those situations during Wednesday's 8-1 loss.

The low point Thursday came in the second inning, when they put runners at second and third with no outs. Redmond lined out softly to second, Casilla struck out swinging at a pitch several inches outside and Denard Span grounded back to the pitcher.

Gardenhire said the inning "set a bad tone."

Leading 1-0, the Indians kept the infield back for Redmond.

"They're giving you a tie ballgame, and if you get the first one, they're probably going to play the infield in and let you hit one through," Gardenhire said.

Redmond is 0-for-6 in his career against Carmona, including another failed chance with a runner on third base and one out in the fourth inning.

"I did the best I could," Redmond said. "That's a tough draw for a backup player. That guy's nasty. I haven't hit a ball out of the infield off him yet. That's the way it goes. Righties hit .170 off him, and lefties hit about .370 off him."

Redmond's own splits are just the opposite. He is batting .181 against righthanders, .382 against lefties. But with Joe Mauer getting a day at designated hitter, Redmond drew the righthanded Carmona after missing lefthanders David Huff and Aaron Laffey earlier in the series.

Facing Carmona, who has been in the minors working on his control, the Twins' game plan was to be patient. He walked three of their first six batters.

"At the same time, you've gotta be ready to hit," Morneau said. "Like Lexi's at-bat, it's obviously the difference in the game. He threw him two strikes, when all you've got to do is make contact."

Home plate umpire Ted Barrett called two strikes on Casilla before the strikeout pitch.

"The first pitch -- that wasn't a strike, it was off the plate," Casilla said. "That's why on the last pitch, when he struck me out, I swung because if I don't swing, he's going to call a strike. I was trying to put in play, but it didn't happen."

Morneau, who leads the American League with 89 RBI, missed two chances of his own with runners in scoring position, though Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera robbed him with a diving stop to get a key forceout in the fifth.

"You have to go up there and execute a plan," Morneau said. "That's collectively as a team. I think everybody had a guy in scoring position throughout the ballgame, and we didn't get that big hit."

The result was a fourth consecutive loss for Nick Blackburn (8-6), who gave up only two runs over 6 1/3 innings.

"It's more frustrating that we just aren't putting together wins right now," Blackburn said. "As opposed to pointing fingers who could be doing better or whatever, I think none of us are really playing great right now. I think the main focus is doing our own jobs."

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