Coming back to Target Field was supposed to be a reprieve from the Twins' recent road woes, but Monday night's 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers and subsequent move into second place proved otherwise.
Brennan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera each hit two-run doubles in the first off Francisco Liriano, who gave up a season-high six runs in just over six innings to help the Tigers gain a half-game lead in the AL Central. Jason Kubel was a bit of a rally-killer early on, ending the first inning by way of double play before squashing a comeback attempt with the bases loaded and one out in the third. However, he did account for one of the Twins runs.
Jim Thome hit a bomb off Jeremy Bonderman in the sixth, which could only be one-upped by his first triple in over six years two innings earlier. Nice work, Jim Jam. Also, Delmon Young drove in his 50th run of the season.
Good news? It looks like the infield may be back to normal soon, as shortstop J.J. Hardy claims to be swinging without pain in his left wrist finally. He hopes to begin rehabbing in a couple days and could rejoin the team by the end of the homestand this weekend.
Also, New York Yankees first baseman Mark Tiexiera and his .229 batting average are hot on Justin Morneau's tail in this year's All-Star popularity contest, about 255,419 behind our Canadian Crusher. Votes will be tallied this Thursday night at 11:59 ET.
And of course, our thoughts are with Joel Zumaya's elbow today after an alarming scene in the eighth inning last night when the hard-throwing reliever fell to the ground, painfully clutching his arm after delivering a pitch.
Game two is set for 7:10pm with Nick Blackburn taking the hill against Armando Galarraga, who is 1-5 with a 5.48 ERA in nine career games against Minnesota, including seven starts.
- Snorking with Rick Dempsey. [Walkoff Walk]
- Zambranogate! [Bleacher Nation]
- Next best thing to a dugout brawl? A near brawl. [Zoner Sports]
- Where have you gone, Boof Bonser? [MLB Trade Rumors]
- Pumping iron with grizzly bears [BLB]
