Game #39, Twins at White Sox,7/23/12

The Twins were back in town, so I was pretty happy. There he is, Joe Mauer. My heart always swells with happiness at the first sight of him.

His signature move.

He's just so friendly.

Two of my favorites, Ben Revere and Denard Span

Ben signing. The Twins players always come over and sign.

Trevor Plouffe

Here's Addison Reed.

That is SOME stretching.

One of my former students, Kaylyne, was going away to college. She's a huge Sox fan and wanted to go to a game with me. I would rather we went to a game together where I can actually cheer for the Sox, but I would be cheering for my Twins tonight. She was able to meet Alexei Ramirez before the game.

Gavin Floyd was matched up against Francisco Liriano. If the first inning was any indication (spoiler alert: it wasn't), the Twins would dominate the night. Joe Mauer walked, loading the bases.

Josh Willingham hit into a double play, but Span scored. Twins led 1-0.

Here's Joe Mauer at first. I like him better at catcher, but I like him best in the lineup, so he can play anywhere.

With De Aza and Youkilis on, Paul Konerko hit a homer. Instant 3-1 lead.

Beautiful Brian Dozier came up in the second and singled. Drew Butera singled and moved Doze to third.

Dozier scored on Floyd's wild pitch. Jamey Carroll walked, moving Drew to second. But that was it for the Twins. Sox still up 3-2.

Francisco.

What a stud.

Joe Mauer walked in the third. But that was it.

After Dunn and Rios both homered in the third, Duensing came on in relief. Twins left the inning down 7-2.

We had fun.

With Ben Revere on base, Mauer singled.

Ben Revere scored and Joe went to second on a De Aza error.

That was it for the inning, but enjoy some Joe Mauer pictures.

Brian Dozier reached all the way to second on a Youkilis error.

Then he reached third on a Casilla groundout.

He was stranded, but enjoy his hair.

The Kevin Hickey jersey--seriously, the Sox know how to honor people.

Here's Samuel Deduno, who I met for the first time this day.

Matt Thornton was on in relief.

Here's the elusive Glen Perkins. I can never get any face time with him or Duensing. They are the only Twins to reject me.

Relaxing in the pen.

Joey.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alex Burnett came on to relieve a very effective Brian Duensing.

His signature move.

Ryan Doumit went ahead and hit a solo homer in the eighth.

Poor Jesse Crain, usually very effective against his old team, gave up the homer. Twins inching back, down 7-4.

It looked like rally time. Alexi Casilla reached on an infield single, then stole second.

Brett Myers came in to relieve and took care of the rest of the batters.

The bullpen looked on.

Baseball fields are beautiful.

Joe Mauer went in to catch in the bottom of the eighth.

Magic Addison Reed came on to finish up the game in the top of the ninth.

Span started with a double. There was hope for a comeback.

But the Sox won, 7-4.

All of my photos from this day may be found at http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150977933688786.424981.511233785&type=3