Game 1 @ Minnesota (J.Halama vs C.Silva)
Minnesota 7 Seattle 6
WP: Joe Nathan (1-0) LP: Jose Paniagua (0-1)
HR: Alex Rodriguez (4), Jay Buhner (3)
Game MVP: Jason Bartlett (2-3, 3 RBI)
Seattle jumped out to an early 3-0 lead off of starter Carlos Silva in the 1st thanks to 2 walks and then a 3 run HR by Alex Rodriguez. Minnesota however scratched its way back with 2 runs each in the 3rd, 4th and 6th innings. Seattle came back in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 6 thanks to a couple walks, a wild pitch and then a single by Jay Bell. It looked like Seattle would push atleast 1 go ahead run across the plate after an error and a walk to lead off the top of the 9th. But ROn Gardenhire called for closer Joe Nathan and Nathan was able to make it through the tough middle of Seattle order without a run crossing the plate. In the bottom of the ninth, a double by Jason Tyner followed by a double by Nick Punto was all that was needed to give the Twins a hard fought 7-6 victory.
Minnesota 14 Seattle 2
WP: Matt Garza (1-0)LP: Freddy Garcia (1-1)
SV: Kyle Lohse (1)
HR: Jay Buhner (4), Torii Hunter (2)
Game MVP: Torii Hunter (3-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 HR)
Minnesota brought their "A" game offensively and rode a surprisingly good performance by Matt Garza (6 IP,4 H, 1 ER). The Twins 19 hit attack was led by 4 hits from Nick Punto and 3 hits each from Jason Tyner, Torii Hunter and Jason Bartlett. Justin Morneau also added 2 doubles, driving in 3 runs and scoring 3 times. Kyle Lohse picked up the 3 inning save by shutting out the Mariner bats from the 7th inning on. A lone bright spot for Seattle was a 2 strikeout 9th inning pitched by OF Stan Javier. Javier did however allow a tape measure 437 foot blast by Torii Hunter.
Game 3 @ Seattle (J.Santana vs J.Moyer)
Minnesota 9 Seattle 6
WP: Johan Santana (3-0)LP: Jamie Moyer (0-1)
SV: Joe Nathan (4)
HR: Justin Morneau (2), Jay Buhner (5)
Game MVP: Johan Santana (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 11 K)
Seven shut out innings by Johan Santana coupled with 7 early runs by Minnesota made it look like an easy road to a 3rd straight win by Minnesota over Seattle. However, the Mariners showed they were no pushovers by rallying for 6 runs in the bottom of the 8th off the Twin bullpen. Matt Guerrier was awful allowing 6 hits and 6 runs including a bomb by Jay Buhner. Jesse Crain came into the game with 1 out after the Buhner home run and quickly was in a jam after John Olerud and Dan Wilson hit back to back singles to put the tying and go ahead runs on base. Crain settled down to strike out Rickey Henderson though to end the threat. Minnesota added 2 insurance runs in the top of the 9th off reliever Arthur Rhodes with Morneau, Cuddyer, Mauer and Rondell White drilling 4 straight singles. The Twins went to Nathan in the 9th to close out the game that at one point looked like a runaway. Cuddyer was the standout offensively as he went 4-5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. Santana pushed his scoreless inning streak to 20 to start the season. He has been downright dominant with 25 K's and just 12 hits allowed over those innings.
Game 4 @ Seattle (F.Liriano vs P.Abbott)
Minnesota 5 Seattle 3
WP: Francisco Liriano (2-1)LP: Paul Abbott (0-1)
SV: Joe Nathan (5)
HR: Torii Hunter (3), Jay Buhner (6)
Game MVP: Nick Punto (3-4, 2 RI, 1 R, 1 2B)
Seattle came out showing the determination need to avoid a tough early season sweep. Jay Buhner continued to smash Twin pitching with his 4th HR of the series. The Buhner bomb gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead after 4. Paul Abbott was cruising but gave up single runs in the 5th and 6th to allow the Twins to tie the game up. Seattle retook the lead when Stan Javier singled home John Olerud in the bottom of the 7th. Unfortunately for the M's, Abbott allowed a single to Joe Mauer and then a big home run to Torii Hunter. Jose Mesa then entered and allowed another run with a walk to Cuddyer, single to Bartlett and another RBI single to Punto. Minnesota turned it over to their bullpen and Scott Eyre, Juan Rincon and Joe Nathan combined to get the final 6 outs to seal the series sweep. Francisco Liriano was good enough (7 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 7 K) to pick up his 2nd victory of the season.
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