Twins-Phillies: Walters leaves game with shoulder stiffness

Twins starter P.J. Walters left the game in the first inning with shoulder stifness. He reportedly had trouble getting loose.

He will have an MRI exam on Thursday.

Walters left after throwing 15 pitches, giving up four runs on four hits. Jeff Manship is now pitching for the Twins.

Back to regular programming....

Josh Willingham's 12-game hit streak came to an end on Sunday against the Cubs. At least we thought it did.

An error charged to Ian Stewart on a ground ball in the ninth inning has been changed to a hit. (Thanks Joe Torre). Since Willingham got a hit on Tuesday against the Phillies, his hitting streak now is at 14 games.

Willingham had a 15-game hitting streak earlier this season. Only Willingham and Angel Pagan have had two hitting streaks of at least 14 games.

Speaking of Hamels. he faced the Twins in 2010 in what turned out to be a wacky game. Kevin Slowey started the game and was awful, getting knocked out in the second. The Twins were down 8-3 at one point but scored five in the ninth to tie the game. Joe Mauer hit a massive home run off Brad Lidge. Jim Thome hit a massive home run off Jose Contreras.

Drew Butera homered in the 10th, but Ross Gload homered off of Jon Rauch to re-tie the game. But the Twins got an RBI single by Delmon Young and a two-run double by Matt Tolbert to win 13-10 in 11 innings. Nine home runs were hit in the game. I'll never forget the game because of how many tines I had to re-write my story.

Phillies (29-34)

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Juan Pierre, LF
3. Hunter Pence, RF
4. Jim Thome, DH
5. Shane Victorino, CF
6. Carlos Ruiz, C
7. Placido Polanco, 3B
8. John Mayberry, 1B
9. Michael Martinez, 2B

Cole Hamels, LHP (8-3, 2.93)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Ben Revere, RF.
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Justin Morneau, 1B
6. Ryan Doumit, DH
7. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
8. Brian Dozier, SS
9. Jamey Carroll, 2B

J.P. Walters, RHP (2-1, 4.42)