Box Score

Summary

Mike Maroth vs Johan Santana round two was significantly better than I had expected. The first time these two met they pitched to a draw with Todd Jones gaining the win on a Brandon Inge home run during the ninth. This matchup game was just as good with both pitchers doing an excellent job of keeping the game close with the score at 2-1 through six innings.

Mike Maroth held the Twins to a single run through 6.2 innings; his lowest of the year and while the Twins were able to get hits they couldn’t bring batters home. This continued the Twins slow slide from the .577 winning percentage they held on May 1st to a losing record. With Cleveland losing as well the Tigers are not up 1 1/2 games in the Central.

Pitching

Mike Maroth gets the game ball on this one pitching games reminiscent of his starts in 2006 and picking up his best start of the year. He allowed 9 hits including a double and a triple but was able to hold runners allowing a single earned run which came in the first inning. He pitched to contact and walked none showing that he has come around and could be back to full form.

Jose Mesa & Fernando Rodney teamed up in the bullpen to hold the Twins at bay but it was far from pretty. Mesa didn’t allow any runs but runners reached the corners. Rodney seemed frazzled the entrire time and lacked confidence. He overthrew first base to allow a runner on with 1 out followed up by a home run by Justin Morneau.

Todd Jones finished off the game though it was not a save situation. He, as we’ve become accustomed to, allowed runners on second and third through a walk and a hit combination. As with the rest of the game, the Twins simply were able to bring runners home.

Hitting

Tiger hitting remained strong though this game with Gary Sheffield having a multi-hit night including a home run. Curtis Granderson, hitting in the 9-spot due to a lefty on the mound, got on-base against Santana for the first time in his career. But the game was all Carlos Guillen who hit an opposite-field home run and a triple (but scored only once).

Most everyone contributed hits through the game, totaling in 13. Pudge Rodriguez was the only one to not reach base the entire night going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. Ordonez, who didn’t get a hit, walked twice.