| Twins Split Series with Yanks |
| By Sally Haase April 20, 2012 Yes, you read that headline right. The Minnesota Twins were able to win two of the past four games against the New York Yankees- in New York. For a team that has been kryptonite to the Twins for nearly ten years now, pulling out a series split when most Twins fans were expecting a sweep by the Yankees is a pleasant surprise. The two games the Twins won were behind the veteran arms of Carl Pavano and Jason Marquis. All four Twins starters (Pavano, Marquis, Francisco Liriano, and Anthony Swarzak) had rough starts to their games by either giving back leads or first inning runs. But Pavano and Marquis were able to make the necessary adjustments needed to win the games. Both pitchers adjusted their velocity or adjusted to the umpire’s strike zone to get the Yankees out and keep the Twins in the game. On the other hand, Liriano seems to have memory issues about what the umpire is giving him and the addition and subtraction of pitching. I think Liriano just closes his eyes and flings the ball at the plate and whatever happens, happens. How pitching coach Rick Anderson and manager Ron Gardenhire still have hair I’ll never know, I’m pulling mine out every time Liriano takes the mound. You know you are in bad shape as a pitcher when your team shops you around for trade and 29 teams see no retaining value in you, the Twins and Liriano are stuck with each other they might as well make the most of it. Swarzak did not pitch too badly in Thursday night’s game, had he just held Curtis Granderson to one home run, the Twins could have pulled off a series win, but that’s not what happened and Granderson hit three home runs and the Yankees won the final game of the series. There are a few more good things Twins fans can take from this series and it is the play of the offense, the lineup is starting to click right now and they are getting runners on base and actually bringing them in. Josh Willingham added to his home run total and Joe Mauer and Justin Morenau look like they are finding their swings and Jamey Carroll has played some stellar defense and is a solid # 2 hitter in the Twins lineup. He also gives them a veteran presence up the middle and he also seems to have improved the play of second baseman Alexi Casilla which is a good thing because if Casilla makes a mistake in the field he will bring it to the plate with him. Good play in the field can only equal good at-bats at the plate. The Twins continue their east coast trip with a series with the Tampa Bay Rays. |
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