Minnesota raced out to a 2-0 lead during the opening frame of first ever game at the new Target Field in Minneapolis. The Twins tacked on three more runs to top the Boston Red Sox 5-2 in convincing fashion. Minnesota battered Boston starter, Jon Lester early to take control of the contest. Lester struggled with control from the start, walking Denard Span to begin the game. Span’s pass was followed by an Orlando Hudson single before Lester retired the dangerous due, backstop Joe Mauer and first baseman, Justin Morneau. Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel clubbed back-to-back RBI singles to give the Twins two tallies in their first trip to the plate. The Red Sox never recovered.
Carl Pavano dazzled for the Twins and improved his season record to 2-0. Pavano pitched six innings of one run ball and allowed just four hits. Lester allowed five runs in four innings. The lefty was laced with nine hits. Kubel was the offensive hero for Minnesota in the 2010 grand home debut. The 27 year old DH socked the first homerun of the new ballpark and finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Kubel began the seventh inning with a bang, rocking a 2-2 pitch to right field to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. Minnesota recorded 12 hits in front of their hometown crowd. Mauer collected three hits and a pair of RBIs. His slicing double down the left field line in the bottom of the second inning secured a 3-0 advantage for Pavano. Nick Punto singled, stole a base, scored and made a few exceptional plays in the field for the Twins.
Both teams recorded runs in the fourth inning. Boston got a double from slipping slugger, David Ortiz in the top of the fourth for one of the few Boston highlights. Kevin Youkilis scored on Big Papi’s base hit to put the Sox on the scoreboard. Boston didn’t reach home again until the eighth, by which time it was too little, too late. Dustin Pedroia’s sacrifice fly to Cuddyer in right field scored the ninth hitter, Jeremy Hermida from third. Jon Rauch put the finishing touches on a memorable first game with a perfect ninth for his second save. Pavano earned the win, while striking out four. The Twins’ fourth frame run came on Mauer’s infield single in the breezy 65 degree Minnesota ballpark. Monday was the first home game in a non-indoor venue since the 1981 season. The Twins will throw right-hander Kevin Slowey against Boston newcomer, John Lackey on Wednesday. Lackey is coming off a strong Red Sox debut in which he shutout New York for six solid frames. Minnesota wraps up the first Target Field series Thursday. Southpaw flamethrower, Francisco Liriano toes the rubber for the Twins against Beantown veteran knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield.
Parting Points: Song of the day-“Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse
“You can observe a lot just by watching”- Yogi Berra
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