Running the Bases with Alexandra Shloss: Game #40, Twins at White Sox, 7/24/12

Sometimes, really cool things happen to me. Like someone coming up to me as I sit outside the ballpark and giving me a ticket to get in early for batting practice. And against the Twins!

I saw my favorite person Robin Ventura and was determined to talk to him, but I didn't want to yell over and interrupt his work.

When someone came over and talked to him, I saw my chance slipping away.

I consoled myself with talking to Twins players, like Ben Revere here.

It was so cool to be so close to them as they warmed up, and without some of the most annoying autograph hounds in the world, who usually showed up when the Twins were in Chicago.

Still, I couldn't let my Robin chance pass by.

On the other hand, Joe was so close.....

But no. I focused on Robin. So I wrote Robin, can you come here for one second? on a piece of paper. And he did. And I told him very quickly and with tears in my eyes what a hero he was of mine, and he was wonderful and gracious. It was one of my favorite moments.

And now I could focus on Joe.

And on what a good guy Gordon Beckham always is.

Justin Morneau's wife had just had a baby, so he wasn't there the game before. It was so nice to see him.

Joe Mauer.

Jamey Carroll

Justin Morneau

Me and Brian Dozier. He is such a doll.

Denard Span

Always with Luke Hughes face for Cole DeVries. It is annoying. But this is the matchup.

In the first inning, with Adam Dunn on base, Pauly doubled. Sadly, beautiful Brian Dozier had a throwing error, and Adam Dunn scored. The end of the first saw the Sox ahead 1-0.

Jose Quintana had been particularly effective this season.

In the second, Tyler Flowers doubled, but he didn't get anywhere.

Paul Konerko singled in the third.

Then Ramirez singled. But neither scored.

In the top of the fourth, Willinghammer homered to tie the game at 1.

Morneau then singled, trying to keep the rally going.

But he was out trying to turn that single into a double.

In the bottom of the fifth, Konerko homered, putting the Sox ahead 2-1.

Span started off the sixth with a single.

Joe Mauer singled, moving Span over to third.

Then Willinghammer hit a three-run homer. Twins ahead 4-2.

Morneau hit a double, but that was it for the Twins that inning.

Top of the seventh, Span singled and moved Jamey Carroll to second.

The Sox brought in Nate Jones.

That was it for the Twins in that inning. Jones shut them down.

Southpaw celebrated Greek Night.

In the bottom of the 7th, Tyler Robinson came in. Darin Mastrioni made a controversial catch of a fly ball in right. Ventura and company insisted that it dropped. I asked Darin the next day and he said, "Honestly, even after watching the replays, I have no idea if I actually caught it." But the umps gave him the catch.

Youkilis walked.

In the bottom of the 7th, Dunn hit a two-run shot to tie the game at 4.

Casey Fein came in to relieve.

Paul Konerko singled.

Rios doubled, sending Konerko to third.

Escobar came in to run for Konerko at third.

Ramirez was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

Then Viciedo singled, scoring Escobar and Rios and sending Ramirez to third. Viciedo reached second on an error by Willingham.

Tyler Flowers walked.

The Twins brought in Jeff Gray to end the inning, but the Sox had done the damage and were ahead 6-4.

Nate Jones started the inning and Escobar stayed in the game at third, with Youk moving to first.

Thornton then came in to relieve. One thing I like about Ventura's management is that he isn't afraid to put trust in his players, and I think that helps them trust themselves. Thornton is one of many players who turned their seasons around from last year, and I think Ventura deserves credit.

Jeff Gray continued in the eighth, but De Aza walked, then stole second, then got to third on an error. Then Youkilis walked. Adam Dunn doubled, driving two runs in.

Time to bring in Anthony Swarzak.