GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (58-57) at LA ANGELS (67-47)

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MINNESOTA (3) AT LA ANGELS (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- A Casilla 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer C,
J Morneau 1B, T Hunter CF, M Cuddyer RF, J Kubel DH, R White LF, N Punto 3B,
C Silva RHP.

La Angels Starting Lineups -- C Figgins 3B, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero RF,
G Anderson LF, G Matthews Jr DH, C Kotchman 1B, M Izturis 2B, J Mathis C,
R Willits CF, J Lackey RHP.

Umpires -- Gary Darling (HP), Larry Poncino (1B), Jerry Meals (2B),
Bruce Dreckman (3B).

Gametime Weather: 79 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 9 mph.


MINNESOTA 1ST: A Casilla grounded out to second. J Bartlett tripled to
deep right center. J Mauer grounded out to pitcher. J Morneau struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins grounded out to second. O Cabrera flied out to
center. V Guerrero popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0,
LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter doubled to deep center. M Cuddyer grounded into
fielder's choice to pitcher, T Hunter out at second. J Kubel struck out
swinging. R White grounded into fielder's choice to third, M Cuddyer out at
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 0, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: G Anderson flied out to center. G Matthews Jr struck out
swinging. C Kotchman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 0, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto grounded out to first. A Casilla bunt grounded out
to pitcher. J Bartlett singled to left. J Bartlett stole second. J Mauer
singled to right, J Bartlett scored. J Morneau singled to center, J Mauer to
second. T Hunter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Morneau out at
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 3RD: M Izturis flied out to left. J Mathis grounded out to
second. R Willits lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 4TH: M Cuddyer flied out to right. M Redmond hit for J Kubel.
M Redmond flied out to right. R White grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 4TH: C Figgins grounded out to shortstop. O Cabrera singled to
center. V Guerrero flied out to center, O Cabrera to second. G Anderson flied
out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 5TH: N Punto grounded out to first. A Casilla fouled out to
left. J Bartlett grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1,
LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 5TH: G Matthews Jr flied out to center. C Kotchman grounded out
to second. M Izturis lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Mauer reached on bunt single to third. J Morneau flied
out to left. T Hunter grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Mauer out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 6TH: J Mathis grounded out to shortstop. R Willits struck out
looking. C Figgins grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
MINNESOTA 1, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 7TH: M Cuddyer singled to deep center. M Redmond singled to
left, M Cuddyer to second. R White singled to center, M Cuddyer scored,
M Redmond to second. N Punto bunt popped out foul to catcher. A Casilla
grounded into double play, second to first, R White out at second.(1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 7TH: O Cabrera singled to center. V Guerrero grounded into
double play, shortstop to second to first, O Cabrera out at second. G Anderson
grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, LA ANGELS 0.

MINNESOTA 8TH: J Bartlett struck out swinging. J Mauer singled to center.
J Morneau grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Mauer out
at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, LA ANGELS 0.

LA ANGELS 8TH: P Neshek relieved C Silva. G Matthews Jr safe at first on
error by second baseman A Casilla. C Kotchman doubled to deep center,
G Matthews Jr scored. M Izturis homered to right, C Kotchman scored. J Mathis
struck out swinging. R Willits walked. D Reyes relieved P Neshek. C Figgins
walked, R Willits to second. M Guerrier relieved D Reyes. O Cabrera struck out
swinging, R Willits stole third, C Figgins stole second. R Willits scored on
throwing error by catcher J Mauer. V Guerrero lined out to second. (4 Runs,
2 Hits, 2 Errors) MINNESOTA 2, LA ANGELS 4.

MINNESOTA 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved J Lackey. T Hunter walked. M Cuddyer
struck out swinging, T Hunter stole second, T Hunter to third on throwing error
by catcher J Mathis. M Redmond reached on infield single to shortstop, T Hunter
scored. J Tyner ran for M Redmond. R White struck out swinging. L Rodriguez
hit for N Punto. L Rodriguez flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
MINNESOTA 3, LA ANGELS 4.</div>

 

Light-hitting Izturis goes deep again for Angels in comeback win

<h3>LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 3</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- If Maicer Izturis is not apower hitter, he sure is doing a good impression of one.

Izturis homered for the second straight contest, helping the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim post a 4-3 comeback victory over theMinnesota Twins on Saturday.


John Lackey (15-6) became the majors' second 15-game winner,tying Boston's Josh Beckett, who achieved the same goal earlieron Saturday. The righthander allowed two runs and 10 hits overeight frames, striking out three.


The 26-year-old Izturis, who averages a home run once every 70.5at-bats, belted his third homer in the last five games in theeighth, giving the Angels a 3-2 lead. The switch-hitter took thesecond pitch from Twins reliever Pat Neshek (6-2) over thefence in right for a two-run shot, continuing a frame that sawthe Angels turn a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 lead.


Prior to the four-run eighth, Anaheim had been held in check allgame long by Minnesota starter Carlos Silva, who permitted justtwo hits through seven scoreless innings. The righthanderdeparted after 88 pitches, yielding to Neshek prior to thefateful eighth.


Casey Kotchman hit an RBI double in the at-bat just beforeIzturis to account for the first Anaheim run, setting the tablefor the Angels' 29th comeback win of the season.


Anaheim added a much-needed insurance run when Twins catcher JoeMauer was charged with a throwing error on a one-hop throw tothird that was mishandled by shortstop Jason Bartlett. ReggieWillits, who was attempting to steal the base, easily scoredafter the ball rolled into foul territory.


Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez worked around an infield RBIsingle to Mike Redmond in the ninth to post his 29th save in 32chances.


Neshek pitched just one-third of an inning, surrendered fourruns - three earned - and two hits to take the loss. It markedjust the eighth time in 57 appearances the righthander hasallowed a run.


Joe Mauer had three hits for the Twins, who have scored three orfewer runs in nine of their last 10 contests. As a result, theteam fell to 12-44 in such games.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (3) VS LA ANGELS (4) - FINAL

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .238
J Bartlett ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .262
J Mauer c 4 0 3 1 0 0 1 .301
J Morneau 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .284
T Hunter cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 3 .294
M Cuddyer rf 4 1 1 0 0 1 2 .280
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .248
a-M Redmond ph-dh 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 .292
J Tyner pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
R White lf 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .163
N Punto 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .206
b-L Rodriguez ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .196

Totals 35 3 11 3 1 5 17

a-flied out to right for J Kubel in the 4th; b-flied out to center for N Punto
in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - T Hunter (33, J Lackey). 3B - J Bartlett (2, J Lackey). RBI - J
Mauer (50), R White (4), M Redmond (26). 2-out RBI - J Mauer. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, T Hunter 1. GIDP - T Hunter, A Casilla,
J Morneau. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (21, 2nd base off J Lackey/J Mathis), T Hunter
(12, 2nd base off F Rodriguez/J Mathis).

FIELDING: E - A Casilla (5, ground ball); J Mauer (1, throw). DP: 1 (J
Bartlett-A Casilla-J Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .304
V Guerrero rf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
G Anderson lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
G Matthews Jr dh 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 .275
C Kotchman 1b 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 .307
M Izturis 2b 3 1 1 2 0 0 0 .269
J Mathis c 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
R Willits cf 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 .307

Totals 28 4 4 3 2 4 5

BATTING: 2B - C Kotchman (27, P Neshek). HR - M Izturis (5, 8th inning off P
Neshek 1 on, 0 Out). RBI - C Kotchman (54), M Izturis 2 (33). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - G Anderson 1, V Guerrero 1. GIDP - V Guerrero. Team
LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Willits (24, 3rd base off M Guerrier/J Mauer), C Figgins
(32, 2nd base off M Guerrier/J Mauer).

FIELDING: E - J Mathis (1, throw). DP: 3 (O Cabrera-M Izturis-C Kotchman, M
Izturis-C Kotchman, M Izturis-O Cabrera-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 001 000 101 -- 3
LA ANGELS - 000 000 04x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.30
P Neshek (L, 6-2; B, 3) 1/3 2 4 2 1 1 1 2.29
D Reyes 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.39
M Guerrier 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.66

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Lackey (W, 15-6) 8 10 2 2 0 3 0 3.07
F Rodriguez (S, 29) 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 2.57

D Reyes pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 88-60; P Neshek 23-15; D Reyes 4-0; M Guerrier 12-7;
J Lackey 104-69; F Rodriguez 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: C Silva 10-9; P
Neshek 0-0; D Reyes 0-0; M Guerrier 0-1; J Lackey 16-5; F Rodriguez 0-1.
Batters faced: C Silva 22; P Neshek 5; D Reyes 1; M Guerrier 2; J Lackey 31; F
Rodriguez 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Larry Poncino. 2B--Jerry Meals. 3B--Bruce
Dreckman.

T--2:36. Att--44,064.
Weather: 79 degrees, clear. Wind: 9 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

Light-hitting Izturis goes deep again for Angels in comeback win

<h3>LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 3</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- If Maicer Izturis is not apower hitter, he sure is doing a good impression of one.

Izturis homered for the second straight contest, helping the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim post a 4-3 comeback victory over theMinnesota Twins on Saturday.


John Lackey (15-6) became the majors second 15-game winner,tying Boston's Josh Beckett, who achieved the same goal earlieron Saturday. The righthander, who set a new career high inwins, allowed two runs and 10 hits over eight frames, strikingout three.


"I felt like I executed my gameplan, I definitely wanted tothrow more fastballs and challenge inside, I was able to makesome good pitches to get the double play to get out of somejams," Lackey said.


The 26-year-old Izturis, who averages a home run once every 70.5at-bats, belted his third homer in the last five games in theeighth, giving the Angels a 3-2 lead.


"The way (Izturis) has been swinging the bat has been special,its been huge for us," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hehas been around long enough to know the home run is not hisgame, but we'll take it."


"In my mind, I'm not a home run hitter and never will be, I willwelcome the bunt sign anytime, small-ball will always be mygame," Izturis said.


The switch-hitter took the second pitch from Twins reliever PatNeshek (6-2) over the fence in right for a two-run shot,continuing a frame that saw the Angels turn a 2-0 deficit into a4-2 lead.


"You can never explain a feeling like this, its like being on acloud." Izturis said.


Prior to the four-run eighth, Anaheim had been held in check allgame long by Minnesota starter Carlos Silva, who permitted justtwo hits through seven scoreless innings. The righthanderdeparted after 88 pitches, yielding to Neshek prior to thefateful eighth.


"(Silva) had tremendous movement on his fastball and sinker;he's around the zone enough to where he can make you chase hispitch," Izturis said.


Casey Kotchman hit an RBI double in the at-bat just beforeIzturis to account for the first Anaheim run, setting the tablefor the Angels' 29th comeback win of the season.


Anaheim added a much-needed insurance run when Twins catcher JoeMauer was charged with a throwing error on a one-hop throw tothird that was mishandled by shortstop Jason Bartlett. ReggieWillits, who was attempting to steal the base, easily scoredafter the ball rolled into foul territory.


Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez worked around an infield RBIsingle to Mike Redmond in the ninth to post his 29th save in 32chances.


Neshek pitched just one-third of an inning, surrendered fourruns - three earned - and two hits to take the loss. It markedjust the eighth time in 57 appearances the righthander hasallowed a run.


"(Neshek) is legit, he's got tough stuff to hit and we werefortunate to get some hits off him," Scioscia said. "They havea solid bullpen."


Joe Mauer had three hits for the Twins, who have scored three orfewer runs in nine of their last 10 contests. As a result, theteam fell to 12-44 in such games.