Matsuzaka's gyroball finally appeared on Saturday night. But why against us? (tingley/flickr)
| SCOREBOARD (5/10/08) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |  |
R | H | E |
|
Boston Red Sox (24-15) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 0 | |
|
Minnesota Twins (18-17) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
Red Sox Power Overtakes Perkins, Twins
Perkins first start looks good until rough seventh
By Matthew Whipps / Baseball Digest Daily
MINNEAPOLIS - One night after a come from behind win against one of baseball's best closers, the Twins found themselves on the short end of a (solo) home run derby.
The Red Sox hit a season-high four solo home runs off Twins pitching to give them a 5-2 victory Saturday night at the Metrodome.
After finally receiving his first Major League start, St. Paul native Glen Perkins didn't disappoint through his first six innings only giving up one run on a solo home run by on-base machine Kevin Youkilis. It was after the sixth that the wheels fell off.
Apparently six innings was the limit for Perkins tonight as Coco Crisp led off the seventh inning with a monster home run. Crisp's first homer of the season was a sight to be seen as it went 3/4 of the way up the left field bleachers measuring a massive 392 feet. Following an impressive shot from Crisp was shortstop Jed Lowrie and his first Major League home run as the two combined to go back-to-back. This was all for the beaten Perkins and would also be all for the Twins.
The Twins couldn't muster much in the form of a comeback like they were able to off of Jonathan Papelbon the previous night. In fact their scoring chances were pretty few and far between as well. The Twins scored their only two runs off a bases loaded walk by speedster Carlos Gomez in the second inning followed by a Justin Morneau RBI single in the fifth.
Analysis
Plain and simple the Red Sox flexed their muscles on the Twins tonight showing how powerful their lineup can be top to bottom. As impressive of a start the Twins got from Perkins, anytime you score only two runs against the Red Sox, you had better be brilliant on the mound the entire game.
After putting up some runs and ending things in dramatic fashion in last night's ballgame I figured the Twins may be able to carry over some of that momentum into tonight's contest. While there seemed to be a little extra spark during pre-game warm-ups in the air, it certainly didn't translate into much with the bats during the game. This largely had to do with Daisuke Matsuzaka's electric stuff.
While Matsuzaka did have his struggles, it was the appearance of the mythical gyroball that ended up doing in the Twins tonight. We really haven't seen this pitch emerge since coming over from Japan before last season but we sure did tonight. Of course he had to regain his grip on that pitch against the Twins, right? Why us?
One last note about tonight's game that I'll mention is actually something that has been building up and has been brought to light even more the past two nights. Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez has been showing a much improved eye at the plate. Normally labeled a free swinger, the youngster has been showing a lot more discipline at the plate as of late which has been highlighted even more with his big ninth inning walk to continue last night's rally (which he would eventually score the winning run) and tonight's bases loaded walk to score the Twins' first run. Gomez's ability to get on base is crucial to the Twins' success. With his blazing speed and incredible base stealing ability, the Twins need him to find a way to get on base any way he can. He's already shown he get on by lashing the ball to all fields as well as with bunts, but until recently hasn't shown the ability to draw walks. He now seems to be gradually improving his eye at the plate which will make him all the more dangerous at the top of the Twins' lineup. We'll make sure to keep an eye on this as it continues.
ON DECK
Tomorrow night the Twins continue their four game series against the Red Sox with a Mother's Day match-up. The game is slated to be presented nationally on ESPN's presentation of Sunday Night Baseball. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (3-1) will square off against the emerging young righty Nick Blackburn of the Twins. The game is set to get underway at 7:05 CST.
TONIGHT'S STATSMINNEAPOLIS - One night after a come from behind win against one of baseball's best closers, the Twins found themselves on the short end of a (solo) home run derby.
The Red Sox hit a season-high four solo home runs off Twins pitching to give them a 5-2 victory Saturday night at the Metrodome.
After finally receiving his first Major League start, St. Paul native Glen Perkins didn't disappoint through his first six innings only giving up one run on a solo home run by on-base machine Kevin Youkilis. It was after the sixth that the wheels fell off.
Apparently six innings was the limit for Perkins tonight as Coco Crisp led off the seventh inning with a monster home run. Crisp's first homer of the season was a sight to be seen as it went 3/4 of the way up the left field bleachers measuring a massive 392 feet. Following an impressive shot from Crisp was shortstop Jed Lowrie and his first Major League home run as the two combined to go back-to-back. This was all for the beaten Perkins and would also be all for the Twins.
The Twins couldn't muster much in the form of a comeback like they were able to off of Jonathan Papelbon the previous night. In fact their scoring chances were pretty few and far between as well. The Twins scored their only two runs off a bases loaded walk by speedster Carlos Gomez in the second inning followed by a Justin Morneau RBI single in the fifth.
Analysis
Plain and simple the Red Sox flexed their muscles on the Twins tonight showing how powerful their lineup can be top to bottom. As impressive of a start the Twins got from Perkins, anytime you score only two runs against the Red Sox, you had better be brilliant on the mound the entire game.
After putting up some runs and ending things in dramatic fashion in last night's ballgame I figured the Twins may be able to carry over some of that momentum into tonight's contest. While there seemed to be a little extra spark during pre-game warm-ups in the air, it certainly didn't translate into much with the bats during the game. This largely had to do with Daisuke Matsuzaka's electric stuff.
While Matsuzaka did have his struggles, it was the appearance of the mythical gyroball that ended up doing in the Twins tonight. We really haven't seen this pitch emerge since coming over from Japan before last season but we sure did tonight. Of course he had to regain his grip on that pitch against the Twins, right? Why us?
One last note about tonight's game that I'll mention is actually something that has been building up and has been brought to light even more the past two nights. Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez has been showing a much improved eye at the plate. Normally labeled a free swinger, the youngster has been showing a lot more discipline at the plate as of late which has been highlighted even more with his big ninth inning walk to continue last night's rally (which he would eventually score the winning run) and tonight's bases loaded walk to score the Twins' first run. Gomez's ability to get on base is crucial to the Twins' success. With his blazing speed and incredible base stealing ability, the Twins need him to find a way to get on base any way he can. He's already shown he get on by lashing the ball to all fields as well as with bunts, but until recently hasn't shown the ability to draw walks. He now seems to be gradually improving his eye at the plate which will make him all the more dangerous at the top of the Twins' lineup. We'll make sure to keep an eye on this as it continues.
ON DECK
Tomorrow night the Twins continue their four game series against the Red Sox with a Mother's Day match-up. The game is slated to be presented nationally on ESPN's presentation of Sunday Night Baseball. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (3-1) will square off against the emerging young righty Nick Blackburn of the Twins. The game is set to get underway at 7:05 CST.
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