GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (28-25) at OAKLAND (26-27)

AL: MINNESOTA (28-25) at OAKLAND (26-27)

<h3>Hot Twins aim to keep momentum going</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (28-25) at Oakland (26-27) 9:05 pm EDT</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are on aroll. On Saturday, they turn to the man who helped them startit.

The Twins continue their three-game series with the OaklandAthletics on Saturday at McAfee Coliseum.

Minnesota turns to Carlos Silva (3-5, 4.22 ERA), who yieldedjust two runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings in a 4-2 win overToronto his last time out.

The win snapped a personal four-game skid and got the Twinsstarted on their five-game winning streak, a stretch where theoffense has scored 6.6 runs per game, a fair increase over the4.3 runs the team averaged in its first 51 contests.

The righthander is 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA in seven careerregular-season appearances - including six starts - against theA's.

Joe Blanton (4-3, 4.28), who surrendered a career high-tyingthree homers and season-high eight runs in Sunday's 8-4 loss toBaltimore, will look to recover from one of the worst outings ofhis career.

He is 2-2 with a 5.92 ERA in four career outings againstMinnesota.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA OAKLAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .333 0 8 Travis Buck LF .256 6 17
Jeff Cirillo DH .231 1 10 Nick Swisher 1B .304 9 32
Michael Cuddyer RF .303 7 37 Milton Bradley RF .317 2 7
Justin Morneau 1B .288 16 44 Dan Johnson DH .308 5 22
Torii Hunter CF .316 11 45 Eric Chavez 3B .234 7 25
Mike Redmond C .323 1 17 Bobby Crosby SS .251 5 20
Jason Kubel LF .238 2 17 Mark Kotsay CF .250 0 0
Nick Punto 3B .237 0 10 Mark Ellis 2B .235 3 23
Jason Bartlett SS .243 0 10 Jason Kendall C .186 0 13

Carlos Silva RHP (3-5, 4.22) Joe Blanton RHP (4-3, 4.28)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
WARMUPS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA (3-5, 4.22)
OAK - JOE BLANTON (4-3, 4.28)

UMPIRES: HP - MARVIN HUDSON
1B - MIKE MUCHLINSKI
2B - ED MONTAGUE
3B - BILL MILLER

WEATHER: 59 Degrees, cloudy
WIND: 17 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
STARTING BATS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND MIKE REDMOND
OAK - JOE BLANTON AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.333, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
J CIRILLO (.231, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.303, 7 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: T BUCK (.256, 6 HR, 17 RBI)
N SWISHER (.304, 9 HR, 32 RBI)
M BRADLEY (.317, 2 HR, 7 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.22

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.22

Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-2.
Batters faced: J Blanton 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.316, 11 HR, 45 RBI)
M REDMOND (.323, 1 HR, 17 RBI)
J KUBEL (.238, 2 HR, 17 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .323
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Redmond-J Bartlett).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Swisher (1, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.15

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.22

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 14-6; J Blanton 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 1-0; J Blanton 1-2. Batters faced: C Silva 3; J Blanton 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Stewart in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T Hunter (.316, 11 HR, 45 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.308, 5 HR, 22 RBI)
E CHAVEZ (.234, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
B CROSBY (.251, 5 HR, 20 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Redmond-J Bartlett).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186

Totals 2 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Swisher (1, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.15

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.16

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 14-6; J Blanton 29-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 1-0; J Blanton 4-2. Batters faced: C Silva 3; J Blanton 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL MINNESOTA AT OAKLAND
NOTE: OAKLAND'S TRAVIS BUCK HAS LEFT THE GAME IN THE FIRST
INNING WITH A STOMACH AILMENT.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.237, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.243, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
L CASTILLO (.337, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .337
J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243

Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Redmond-J Bartlett).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
D Johnson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Swisher (1, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.09

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.16

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 24-12; J Blanton 29-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 4-0; J Blanton 4-2. Batters faced: C Silva 6; J Blanton 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M KOTSAY (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M ELLIS (.235, 3 HR, 23 RBI)
J KENDALL (.186, 0 HR, 13 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .341
J Cirillo dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .224
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Redmond-J Bartlett).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
D Johnson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186

Totals 5 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Swisher (1, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
OAKLAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.09

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.11

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 24-12; J Blanton 42-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 4-0; J Blanton 6-3. Batters faced: C Silva 6; J Blanton 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.301, 0-FOR-1)
J MORNEAU (.286, 0-FOR-1)
T HUNTER (.315, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .341
J Cirillo dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .224
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 11 0 2 0 0 0 4

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Redmond-J Bartlett).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .275
N Swisher 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .304
M Bradley rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .311
D Johnson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
J Kendall c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .191

Totals 9 0 1 0 1 2 2

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: CS - N Swisher (1, 2nd base by C Silva/M Redmond).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
OAKLAND - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 3 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.02

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.11

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 40-24; J Blanton 42-28. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 5-1; J Blanton 6-3. Batters faced: C Silva 10; J Blanton 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Ed Montague. 3B--Bill
Miller.

Weather: 59 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.304, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M BRADLEY (.311, 0-FOR-1)
D JOHNSON (.305, 0-FOR-1)</div>