The Twins played a 4.25 hour game Thursday, in front of 20,000 fans. There were also 2 Orioles fans, but they were seen slinking off as the winning run came in. The game went to 10 innings, with the teams combining to have 37 players come onto the field. To put that into perspective, there were only 50 players in the dome this evening, and at least 11 of them couldn't play. The Twins had early leads of one and two runs, but fell behind 9-5 entering the bottom of the seventh. They had 19 hits, but they also left 20 men on base, which explained why they weren't winning. The Twins scored twice in that inning, and then had the bases jammed in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs. Shannon Stewart hit a long flyball that was caught in foul ground, only missing the foul pole, (an automatic homer) by about ten feet. It is a funny thing, but regular readers will know that this is the third Twins game that I have been to this season. They have yet to hit a round-tripper. Anyway, its the bottom of the ninth, first and second, no sweat. Well, Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter both struckout, so that gives us two outs, and still men on first and second. AJ Pierzynski hit a single, which scored one run. Then Michael Restovich struck out, but the ball got away from the catcher so he still had a chance. Unfortunately, he didn't know it. Finally, he started running to first. He is a big guy. Like 250 pound two bowls of Wheeties a day for breakfast kind of big guy. Anyway, he lumbered into first, but the catcher easily threw him out. Unfortunately for the Baltimore squad, the 1st baseman dropped the ball , and the Twins had a tie game. The top of the tenth was smooth enough, going 1-2-3, and the Twins loaded the bases with one down in the bottom of the inning. It didn't help that the Orioles committed their third error in the inning. Then they brought an outfielder in. This means that a ball on the ground is almost certainly one destined for a double-play. If it gets past the infielders though, the game is over. Jacque Jones hit a bouncer over the head of the first basemen, winning the game. There have been many complaints about the metrodome, but on a natural surface, that ball is easily caught. Also, the first baseman was playing in front of the bag, so he never had a chance.
Whew, now that you know about the game, I can go to sleep at it is nearing 1:00 AM.