Recap: Minnesota vs. Seattle
Sports Network | August 16, 2008
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brian Buscher's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning pushed Minnesota past Seattle, 7-6, in the middle test of a three-game set from the Metrodome.
Facing Cesar Jimenez (0-2), Joe Mauer beat out an infield single to third. Justin Morneau followed with a single, and Miguel Batista got the nod. He induced a sac bunt from Delmon Young which moved both runners, then pinch- hitter Mike Lamb walked to load the bases.
Buscher then ended the game by lofting a fly ball to left which plated Mauer with the deciding run.
Mauer finished 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored for the Twins, winners of three in a row and four of five.
Dennys Reyes (3-0) got the win after hurling a scoreless ninth. Starter Scott Baker allowed eight hits and four runs over 5 1/3 innings.
Ichiro Suzuki and Jeff Clement both knocked in a pair of runs for the Mariners, who have dropped five of six. Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith lasted five innings, but was shelled for 10 hits and five runs with one strikeout and a pair of walks.
Mauer's two-out solo homer in the first put the Twins on the board. After a Morneau walk and Young's single, Randy Ruiz smacked a single to left scoring Morneau for a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota took a 3-0 advantage in the second when Denard Span singled with one out, stole second and scored on Mauer's base hit. Morneau's ground-rule double and a single from Young upped the edge to five.
Seattle finally struck back in the sixth with a six-run frame. Jeremy Reed led off with a single and moved up on a wild pitch. Adrian Beltre walked and Reed scored on Beltre's double. Two batters later, Clement came through with a two- run single up the middle.
Jesse Crain came in for Baker and fanned Wladimir Balentien, but walked Bryan LaHair and allowed a Yuniesky Betancourt double to score Clement. Craig Breslow got the nod but was greeted immediately by a two-run single from Suzuki which put the M's on top.
Jason Kubel's pinch-hit RBI single in the home eighth knotted the contest and set the stage for Buscher's timely winner one frame later.
Minnesota has won three of the five meetings this season...Breslow was charged with his first blown save of the year...Jimenez was also credited with a blown save along with the loss, after allowing three hits and a run in two-thirds of an inning...Mauer's home run was his eighth of the season...The Twins turned three double plays in the contest.
