Looks like Gardy decided to make a change tonight and split up the lefty bats of Jacque Jones and Justin Morneau. After getting the day off yesterday against Boston, Morneau returns to the lineup tonight against Seattle batting seventh. Batting between Jones and Morneau tonight is Lew Ford. Replacing the injured Michael Cuddyer at third base tonight is Terry Tiffee.

Carlos Silva (7-5) gets the start tonight against Gil Meche (10-8). Meche has more walks on the season (59) than Silva has strikeouts (54). Silva, of course, has only 7 walks on the season in 145-2/3 innings.

UPDATE: Does it count as a pitchers duel if the batters suck? Neither team has a hit through the first two innings, and it looks largely to be more a result of poor hitting than great pitching. Of course, the called third strike against LeCroy in the second was a horrible call....

UPDATE: Goodbye ass-bats. After Morneau grounded out to first, Tiffee singled, Bartlett walked, and Stewie doubled to the gap in left-center. Twins up 2-0. Punto then doubled down the first base line scoring Stewie. Twins up 3-0. FSN Northwest broadcasters are theorizing that Stewie's linedrive off Meche's ass to lead off the game may be affecting his pitching. Mauer popped out to left, but LeCroy singled to left. Chris Snelling's throw to the plate was well offline, allowing Punto to score, but then LeCroy got caught in a rundown between first and second. Middle of the third, Twins lead 4-0.

UPDATE: Chris Snelling homered to right-center to make it 4-1. Too bad, because Silva hasn't even had to break a sweat yet. At this rate, he might hang in for a complete game and give the bullpen a rest.

UPDATE: Back-to-back doubles by Ibanez and Sexson made it 4-2. Beltre hit a high chopper off the plate that advanced Sexson to third. Jeremy Reed followed with a single scoring Sexson and it's now 4-3. Thank goodness a double play got Silva out of the inning.

UPDATE: More missed opportunities. After Tiffee lined out, Bartlett walked and Stewie doubled, moving Bartlett to third. Punto struckout and Mauer was intentionally walked to load the bases before LeCroy flied out to Ichiro at the wall. Still 4-3. Meche's pitch count is getting up there and the Twins could chase him soon with another long inning.

UPDATE: Silva's eighth walk of the year came back to hurt him when Bloomquist doubled in Snelling from second to tie the game. 4-4 through five.

UPDATE: Nevermind that long inning talk. Thornton came on for Meche to start the sixth and retired Jones, Ford, and Morneau in order. Thornton threw all fastballs to Morneau, but Morneau was swinging at breaking balls, because he never came close to catching up to Thornton's fastball.

10:10 PM | (0)
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