Atlanta Nipped by Minnesota, Guess Who’s in 2nd Place in NL East!
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Atlanta’s Tim Hudson was masterful for 7 1/3 innings against the Minnesota Twins, yielding only two hits before he felt a knot in the back of his shoulder. He left with a 2-0 lead as reliever Rafael Soriano finished out the 8th inning. But closer Brian Wickman couldn’t hold the lead. He was pounded in the 9th managing but one out before dh Mike Redmond’s walkoff single to leftfield plated the winning run in Minnesota’s comeback 3-2 win.
It’s amazing how pennant races turn on situations like this. There are now new occupants of 2nd place in the NL East. On their day off, the Phillies moved into sole possession of 2nd place, 2 scant games behind the current division-leading New York Mets.
Atlanta took a 2-0 lead on Minnesota starter Johan Santana on catcher Brian McCann’s solo homer to centerfield in the 5th inning and on leftfielder Matt Diaz’s run-scoring double to rightfield in the 6th inning.
Santana was disappointed at being replaced to begin the 8th inning, but he had thrown 108 pitches through 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 5 hits including McCann’s homer and walked 3 while striking out 9. After the game, he was all smiles.
AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell describes the Minnesota 9th inning for Yahoo sports;
Minnesota hit a bunch of bouncers to scrap together a wild rally in the ninth to hand Wickman (1-2) his third blown save this year.
“Where they placed the ball was pretty special,” Wickman said. “That’s their ballclub.”
Luis Castillo stroked a single past third base for a leadoff single and advanced on Joe Mauer’s groundout to shortstop. Michael Cuddyer drove him in with a triple that rolled all the way down the left-field line, and Justin Morneau reached on a chopper to first base.
Torii Hunter hit a grounder to third base, and Yunel Escobar’s throw home to get Cuddyer was high for an error that allowed the tying run to score. Then Redmond ripped a single to left to end it and complete the three-game sweep.
His was the only clean hit of the inning.
“Every once in a while you hit one on the barrel,” Redmond said, grinning.
Tigers’ lefthanded reliever Dennys Reyes, who pitched a scoreless 9th innign allowing one hit and striking out one, was awarded the win.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and all of Thursday’s games, click here.
On Friday, the 2nd place Phillies entertain those red-hot Detroit Tigers for a 3 game series through Sunday.
The pitchers for Friday’s Opener will be Jon Lieber vs undefeated Jeremy Bonderman. On Saturday, two lefties face each other. Veteran Jamie Moyer faces young Andrew Miller. On Sunday, Adam Eaton goes against Justin Verlander who tossed a complete game No-Hit 4-0 shutout of the Milwaukee Brewers in his previous start this past Tuesday.
For the scores, boxscores and recaps on this and all of Friday’s games, click here.
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