The Minnesota Twins continued their inter league success this past weekend against Philadelphia in Citizen Bank Park. Since 2006, the Twins have the best inter league record in baseball. The Twins, before this weekend, never played in the Phillies' new ballpark. Citizen Bank Park is nothing like Target Field. Target Field is a pitcher's ballpark whereas Citizen Bank is a hitter's paradise. Balls were flying out of the park like crazy.
Through the first two games of the series, thirteen home runs were blasted (nine by Philadelphia and four by Minnesota). Ryan Howard had the most with two home runs on Friday night and one on Saturday. Nick Blackburn and Kevin Slowey got roughed up the first two nights. The Twins lost Friday night, but they woke up the lumber with five runs in the ninth in order to win 13-10 in eleven innings on Saturday.
With both starting pitchers leaving the games early and with the bullpen working overtime, Carl Pavano came into Sunday's game knowing that he was going to have to work and work hard. On Sunday, he did his job. He threw a four hit complete game against the hard-hitting Phillies, and the Twins began their inter league road trip by taking two out of three games.
Pavano was dealing strike after strike. He was just pounding the strike zone on Sunday just like he has been doing all season. Most of his outs came on fly balls. He is a fly ball pitcher anyways, so he kept the defense (best in the Majors) busy. Nick Punto made a spectacular, strong throw across his body to get the speedy Shane Victorino out at first base. Both Jason Kubel and Denard Span made some exciting, diving catches in the outfield.
Pavano only made one mistake all game and that was a solo home run. He did not strikeout many, he got ahead in the count, and most important, he did not walk anybody. Through seven innings, his pitch count was only at seventy pitches. He sure gave the bullpen a much needed rest. Plus, the bullpen and the rest of the club have an off day before they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in a border battle.
On Sunday, the offense showed up as well. Both Justin Morneau and Denard Span had solo home runs to provide enough run support to give Pavano his eighth win of the season. Pavano stepped up when the Twins need him most. They are going to need his veteran leadership throughout the rest of the season if they want to make it to October this fall.
The Twins left Philadelphia on a good note with a 4-1 win over Roy Halladay and the Phillies on Sunday. They still lead the Detroit Tigers by 1.5 games in the wild Central Division. Do not forget to vote for the All Star Game to see the Twins well represented in Anaheim (home of the Angels). The Twins are now 40-29, and the boys of summer are just getting warmed up.
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