GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (51-50) at CLEVELAND (59-43)

AL: MINNESOTA (51-50) at CLEVELAND (59-43)

<h3>Twins look to snap five-game skid, face Indians</h3>

Minnesota (51-50) at Cleveland (59-43), 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins will try to avoid theirfifth straight defeat when they face the Cleveland Indians inthe opener of a weekend series Friday.


Boof Bonser (5-6, 4.53 ERA) takes the ball for the Twins withthe hopes of stopping the bleeding. Bonser is winless sinceJune 10 against Washington, a span of eight straight starts.

Last time out, the righthander battled though 7 2/3 innings,allowing two runs and five hits but received a no-decisionagainst Anaheim on Saturday.


Cleveland counters with Paul Byrd (8-4, 4-43), who has posted a7-3 showing with a 3.95 ERA through 13 career outings againstMinnesota. Byrd survived in his latest start against the Twins,giving up five runs in seven innings for the win on May 15.

The righthander is searching for his first pair of wins sincecapturing four straight from May 15-30. In his last start, Byrdallowed two runs in 5 2/3 frames to defeat Texas on Sunday.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS

MINNESOTA CLEVELAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .306 0 18 Grady Sizemore CF .274 18 55
Jason Tyner RF .268 0 15 Kenny Lofton LF .303 7 23
Joe Mauer C .312 5 43 Victor Martinez 1B .315 17 77
Justin Morneau 1B .293 28 86 Travis Hafner DH .256 16 66
Torii Hunter CF .298 21 73 Jhonny Peralta SS .276 14 50
Jason Kubel LF .247 8 40 Casey Blake 3B .267 14 50
Rondell White DH .176 0 2 Trot Nixon RF .243 3 30
Brian Buscher 3B .000 0 0 Kelly Shoppach C .309 4 17
Nick Punto SS .218 1 20 Josh Barfield 2B .252 2 46

Boof Bonser RHP (5-6, 4.53) Paul Byrd RHP (8-4, 4.43)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
WARMUPS: MIN - BOOF BONSER (5-6, 4.53)
CLE - PAUL BYRD (8-4, 4.43)

UMPIRES: HP - JOHN HIRSCHBECK
1B - LAZ DIAZ
2B - WALLY BELL
3B - BILL WELKE

WEATHER: 80 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, in from center</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
STARTING BATS: MIN - BOOF BONSER AND JOE MAUER
CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.306, 0 HR, 18 RBI)
J TYNER (.268, 0 HR, 15 RBI)
J MAUER (.312, 5 HR, 43 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.274, 18 HR, 55 RBI)
K LOFTON (.303, 7 HR, 23 RBI)
V MARTINEZ (.315, 17 HR, 77 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
CLEVELAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.53

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.40

Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 8-8. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 2-1. Batters
faced: P Byrd 3.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.293, 28 HR, 86 RBI)
T HUNTER (.298, 21 HR, 73 RBI)
J KUBEL (.247, 8 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .302
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (6, 2nd base by B Bonser/J Mauer).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.49

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.40

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 16-8; P Byrd 8-8. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bonser
0-1; P Byrd 2-1. Batters faced: B Bonser 3; P Byrd 3.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.256, 16 HR, 66 RBI)
J PERALTA (.276, 14 HR, 50 RBI)
C BLAKE (.267, 14 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - T Hunter. Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .302
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (6, 2nd base by B Bonser/J Mauer).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Barfield-J Peralta-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.49

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.36

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 16-8; P Byrd 13-12. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 0-1; P Byrd 4-2. Batters faced: B Bonser 3; P Byrd 6.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: R WHITE (.176, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
N PUNTO (.218, 1 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R White dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .218

Totals 6 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: GIDP - T Hunter. Team LOB - 0.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .302
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
T Nixon rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .246
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 3 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (6, 2nd base by B Bonser/J Mauer).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Barfield-J Peralta-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 4.45

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.36

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 36-23; P Byrd 13-12. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 0-2; P Byrd 4-2. Batters faced: B Bonser 8; P Byrd 6.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 2 0
CLEVELAND 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - BOOF BONSER
CLE - PAUL BYRD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J BARFIELD (.252, 2 HR, 46 RBI)
G SIZEMORE (.276, 1-FOR-1)
K LOFTON (.302, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304
J Tyner rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .295
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R White dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
B Buscher 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217

Totals 10 0 2 0 0 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Castillo 1. GIDP - T
Hunter. Team LOB - 1.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
K Lofton lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .302
V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
C Blake 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
T Nixon rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .246
K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .306
J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252

Totals 8 0 3 0 0 3 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. Team LOB - 2.


BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (6, 2nd base by B Bonser/J Mauer).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Barfield-J Peralta-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 4.45

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.32

Pitches-strikes: B Bonser 36-23; P Byrd 25-20. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Bonser 0-2; P Byrd 6-2. Batters faced: B Bonser 8; P Byrd 10.

UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Laz Diaz. 2B--Wally Bell. 3B--Bill Welke.

Weather: 79 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY VICTOR MARTINEZ SCORED JOSH BARFIELD.
ERROR BY NICK PUNTO ALLOWED GRADY SIZEMORE TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, V MARTINEZ ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
CLEVELAND 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.255, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JHONNY PERALTA (15) TO LEFT WITH 1
OUT IN THE 3RD OFF BOOF BONSER SCORED VICTOR MARTINEZ AND TRAVIS
HAFNER.
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 5

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: C BLAKE (.269, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH BARFIELD SCORED CASEY BLAKE.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, J BARFIELD ON FIRST, K SHOPPACH ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
CLEVELAND 6 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.276, 1-FOR-1, BB)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: RAMON ORTIZ (3-4, 5.20) IN THE 3RD
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, G SIZEMORE ON FIRST, J BARFIELD ON SECOND, K
SHOPPACH ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0, CLEVELAND 6

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K LOFTON (.304, 1-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Ortiz relieved B Bonser.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, G SIZEMORE ON FIRST, J BARFIELD ON SECOND, K
SHOPPACH ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
CLEVELAND 6 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K Lofton (.304, 1-FOR-2)</div>