Running the Bases with Alexandra Shloss: Game #60 Twins at White Sox, September 4, 2012

I met my favorite baseball player ever, Robin Ventura, outside! I adore him to a million times infinity. But why am I always wearing a Twins shirt when I meet him?

Cole DeVries again!

Smiling Joe Mauer.

I have to tell my story.

The previous series, I called Joe Mauer over, and he always comes over and talks and signs and gets a photo. Well--not always, but if he comes over, which he does 2 out of 3 times, he comes to me first. So we were talking, shooting the breeze, and then he left! I got no auto, no photo.

So today, I jokingly said, "Joe, you hurt my feelings when you ignored me yesterday."

He said, "You hurt MY feelings just now when you said I ignored you. Don't I always come talk to you?"

"Yes..."

"I'm leaving! Just kidding." And then he signed everything I had.

Okay, this time I said, "Joe, I'm sad I only get to see you three times a year now that I live in Chicago."

He said, "Three times a year? Liar. You come to every game."

I said, "I know, Mr. Literal. I mean you only come into town three times a year, even if it's for three games each."

"Technicalities," he said. I love him.

Awesome Drew Butera.

My friend Meghan, who usually accompanies me on my Twins game excursions, was unable to come to the game in Chicago because it was her daughter's first day of school. It was also her birthday. Wayne wishes her a happy birthday here.

Morneau didn't come say hi even once. I blame the obnoxious autographers, and the fact that Meghan wasn't with me.

Good old Wayne throwing the baseball. He used to play back in the day.

The Willinghammer himself

Cole DeVries wishing Meg an HB.

Darin Mastoianni fan club

The amazing Scott Diamond was pitching today against the also successful Jose Quintana. SPOILER ALERT: Not so successful today, Jose.

Joey

Glen is going to do his makeup in the bullpen

Trevor Plouffe getting ready for the Chorus Line.

Can you tell that I adore the Twins?

I was totally sad this game. I was at the game alone, which wasn't that big of a deal, but I that day, after looking at finances, I decided that, due to the loss of my job, I would have to move in with my parents and/or quit my current job, which I love.

It occurred to me that people reading my blog must think I'm a millionaire to go to all these games and have such unusually good seats. I am not. In fact, I am the poorest I've ever been in my life. Most of the Cubs games I went to for free or very very cheap for various reasons. And most of the White Sox games too--these weren't usually free but pretty cheap. I have friends who are season ticket holders, and they sell for very little or give away the tickets they can't use.

But the Twins games tickets I bought before I lost my job, and I usually get pretty good seats. I tried to sell them on stubhub but they didn't go. I'm glad they didn't go. I needed to see these boys. The tickets were still cheaper than therapy, and baseball is far more effective.

Still, I was in a very sour mood. Instead of sitting in my actual seats, I took a seat in the last row near the left field foul pole. No one was sitting near me, and I just cried. I let all the tears out that I'd been holding for a while. In the past few months, I had lost quite a bit, nearly everything. Now, here I was, 34 and moving in with my family. Also, Justin Morneau ignored me. He never ignores me.

The game itself was full of events, but not the pitching duel I had pictured. The Sox scored 3 quickly in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the second, the Twins answered back. Willingham and Morneau both singled, Parmalee walked, and then Plouffe walked to drive in a run. Very un-Quintana. Escobar, in his first game at The Cell in a Twins uniform, singled, driving in Morneau and Parmalee and moving Plouffe to second.

Revere singled, driving in Plouffe and moving Escobar to third. Then Jamey Carroll singled, driving in Escobar and moving Revere to second. Just crazy scoring.

Dylan Axelrod came in to relieve Quintana.

Youk and Konerko talked about their mustaches while Gordon looked on jealously.

Up to bat now is the fabulous Mauer...

... and, of course, he singled, driving in Escobar and pushing Carroll to third.

We're now back to Willingham, who started the inning with a single. He sacrificed and Carroll scored. Morneau singled, moving Mauer and his signature move to third.

Ryan Doumit ended the inning with his second out of the inning, stranding the M&M boys, but at the top of the second, the Twins led 7-3.

Here's Mauer walking in the fourth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Viciedo doubled, and then Ramirez drove him home with another double. Sox now only down 7-3. They can do this!

But the Twins weren't done. Morneau walked to start the fifth, and then Doumit doubled, pushing Morneau to third.

Leyson Septimo came on to relieve.

Parmalee grounded out, but he drove in Morneau.

Humber came on in relief.

My man Plouffe tripled, driving in Doumit.

Escobar singled, driving in Plouffe. Revere singled, moving Escobar to third. Then Carroll sacrificed so that Escobar could score (isn't that a dramatic way of writing that?).

Joe Mauer walked.

Willinghammer singled, driving in Revere and moving Mauer to third.

Here comes Morneau for the second time that inning, who walked, also for the second time that inning.

Doumit singled, driving in Mauer and Willingham.

Then Parmalee homered!

Trevor Plouffe singled.

Brian Omogrosso was brought in. But the Twins left that inning up 17-4 against the leaders of the Central Division.

At this point, Robin Ventura decided to take out the starters en masse. First Orlando Hudson hit for Youk and he struck out. Then Hector Gimenez hit for Adam Dunn and he singled.

Jose Lopez hit for Paul Konerko. He grounded out to push Gimenez to second.

Dan Johnson came in and hit for Alex Rios and he walked. Then DeWayne Wise came in and hit for Viciedo, but he grounded out. Scott Diamond held them.

Brian Omogrosso was still pitching in his odd kicking style.

Joe Mauer is still awesome.

Anthony Swarzak came on to pitch the sixth.

In the 7th, the Twins started their substitutions too. Matt Carson hit for Willingham and grounded out. Mastroianni hit for Morneau and struck out. Then Doumit homered.

Nate Jones kills time in the bullpen talking to fans.

Drew Butera came out to catch in the seventh. In the bottom of the 8th, here's Jose Lopez. He struck out.

Then began the festival of doubles. Dan Johnson doubled.

Then Wise doubled, driving in Johnson. Then Olmeda doubled, driving in Wise. Then Flowers doubled, driving in Olmeda. The Twins made a pitching change.