One particular moment in the game is really difficult to understand. In the top of the sixth inning, the score was 8-8. Gotay is at third with one out and Graffanino is at the plate. The Twins brought their infield in to cut down Gotay at home. And Tony Pena calls for a suicide squeeze. Graffanino failed to make contact and Gotay was hung out to dry.
What made Pena believe that one more run would win a game after 16 runs had already been scored in the first five innings? I would understand it if it were the eighth or nine inning, but the sixth? Why not just let Graff hit away? He faced a drawn in infield and he can handle the bat. The pitch he couldn't get the bat on during the squeeze play looked like a slider or a cutter that was down and away.
Bringing in MacDougal for the ninth was the right decision though. The Royals were up 9-8 at the time and Mac is the closer for now. But he walked Torii Hunter on four straight pitches. That just can't be allowed to happen. To make matter worse, Mac tossed the ball into center field when he should have easily thrown Hunter out at second after he took off from first prematurely. And like good teams do, the Twins found a way to get Hunter home to tie the game.
Brian Anderson gave up 10 hits and 7 ER in 3 innings of work.
"I don't think he pitched that bad," Pena said. "They had a lot of cheap hits and we didn't play real well behind him."
As much as I'd like to, it's hard to argue with Pena on either count.
Wood and Sisco were outstanding in relief--combining for 5 shut out innings and only giving up 1 hit and 1 BB.
Notes:
- John Buck went 4-for-5 and hit his first HR of the year…
- Mike Sweeney went 3-for-5 and raised his average to .343…
- Emil Brown went 2-for-4 and hit his 3rd HR of the year…
The Royals return home for a series against the White Sox this weekend. Runelvys Hernandez (1-2, 4.19) goes against Freddy Garcia (1-1, 3.43) tonight. RSTN is carrying the game.
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