Stewart comes through in 11th inning
MINNEAPOLIS -- Shannon Stewart lived up to his reputation as a clutch hitter, again.
After a violent collision that sidelined him for two days, the Twins left-fielder hit an 11th-inning bloop single in a 4-3 victory over the Giants in Tuesday's series opener at the Metrodome.
"I was looking for a slider," Stewart said. "I didn't really hit the ball that good, but the results were good for us."
The Twins were coming off three one-run losses in four days, including two against the Dodgers. Stewart left Friday's game in Los Angeles after running full speed into the outfield wall while tracking a fly ball.
"I haven't been feeling good ever since I hit that wall, but I just need to get back out there and play," said the veteran leadoff hitter. "My wrist is still a little sore, but I'm good enough to play."
With the score tied at 3, Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a broken-bat single to left field off Jeff Fassero (1-4). Second baseman Brent Abernathy, who hurt his shoulder in his own collision with a wall in the ninth inning, followed with a sacrifice bunt. After Juan Castro struck out, Stewart delivered with the game-winner.
"For the years that he's been here, he's proven that day in and day out," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Very consistent hitter, a very big late ballgame hitter, always seems to come up with big hits."
"I just try to really focus and concentrate," Stewart said. "I hate having a bad at-bat with runners in scoring position."
Johan Santana came away with a no-decision after pitching eight solid innings. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits and struck out seven.
"Not as sharp as he's always been, but he threw the ball good enough to get a win," Gardenhire said. "He gave us a good chance tonight."
Santana surrendered RBI singles to Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz. Ray Durham added a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning.
The Twins rallied with the help of some fortunate bounces. In the fifth inning, Cuddyer belted a fly ball to the left-field wall that bounced off Moises Alou's glove for a home run.
Minnesota tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning. After a one-out single, Torii Hunter was caught in a rundown while trying to steal second base. Hunter squeezed past first baseman Feliz's tag and made it back to first base safely. He later scored on Justin Morneau's sacrifice fly.
"If I played blackjack, I'd hit 21 every time," Hunter said. "Lucky."
The home team's good fortune continued later in the inning with a two-out, bases-loaded error by Durham. Castro hit a grounder to shortstop Vizquel, who threw to second base for the force play. Durham bobbled and dropped the ball, allowing Jacque Jones to score.
Jesse Crain (6-0) earned the win with a scoreless top of the 11th inning.
"I know that's a tough way to lose a ballgame for them," Gardenhire said. "But the way these ballgames are going right now, we'll take them any way we can get them."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
After a violent collision that sidelined him for two days, the Twins left-fielder hit an 11th-inning bloop single in a 4-3 victory over the Giants in Tuesday's series opener at the Metrodome.
"I was looking for a slider," Stewart said. "I didn't really hit the ball that good, but the results were good for us."
The Twins were coming off three one-run losses in four days, including two against the Dodgers. Stewart left Friday's game in Los Angeles after running full speed into the outfield wall while tracking a fly ball.
"I haven't been feeling good ever since I hit that wall, but I just need to get back out there and play," said the veteran leadoff hitter. "My wrist is still a little sore, but I'm good enough to play."
With the score tied at 3, Michael Cuddyer led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a broken-bat single to left field off Jeff Fassero (1-4). Second baseman Brent Abernathy, who hurt his shoulder in his own collision with a wall in the ninth inning, followed with a sacrifice bunt. After Juan Castro struck out, Stewart delivered with the game-winner.
"For the years that he's been here, he's proven that day in and day out," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Very consistent hitter, a very big late ballgame hitter, always seems to come up with big hits."
"I just try to really focus and concentrate," Stewart said. "I hate having a bad at-bat with runners in scoring position."
Johan Santana came away with a no-decision after pitching eight solid innings. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits and struck out seven.
"Not as sharp as he's always been, but he threw the ball good enough to get a win," Gardenhire said. "He gave us a good chance tonight."
Santana surrendered RBI singles to Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz. Ray Durham added a solo home run to left field in the sixth inning.
The Twins rallied with the help of some fortunate bounces. In the fifth inning, Cuddyer belted a fly ball to the left-field wall that bounced off Moises Alou's glove for a home run.
Minnesota tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning. After a one-out single, Torii Hunter was caught in a rundown while trying to steal second base. Hunter squeezed past first baseman Feliz's tag and made it back to first base safely. He later scored on Justin Morneau's sacrifice fly.
"If I played blackjack, I'd hit 21 every time," Hunter said. "Lucky."
The home team's good fortune continued later in the inning with a two-out, bases-loaded error by Durham. Castro hit a grounder to shortstop Vizquel, who threw to second base for the force play. Durham bobbled and dropped the ball, allowing Jacque Jones to score.
Jesse Crain (6-0) earned the win with a scoreless top of the 11th inning.
"I know that's a tough way to lose a ballgame for them," Gardenhire said. "But the way these ballgames are going right now, we'll take them any way we can get them."
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
