Twins 6, Yankees 3

What a way to end a 9-game losing streak to the Yankees!

Going into the eighth inning, the Twins were in a situation they’ve been in for years against NY. It was 3-1 and there was really no hope for the future of the game. I mean even if they took a lead, odds are they’d blow it right?

That was the difference on Sunday. After the bases were loaded in the eighth, the Yankees brought in their hall of fame closer Mariano Rivera to end the threat and get the multi-inning save. As it went down, Rivera had one of the worst two batter situations of his career. First, he walked Jim Thome to bring in a run. It was the first time he walked a man with the bases loaded in five years. Next, he gave up a grand slam to Jason Kubel to give up the lead. It was the first salami Rivera gave up since 2002.

WOW. Not much more to say, but the Twins did hold on to the three-run lead. I wonder if they can use this going forward to get the monkey off their backs!

Dodgers 1, Padres 0

Look out for the Dodgers!

After completing the sweep of the first place Padres, the Dodgers find themselves 2 games out of first place in the NL West. Chad Billingsley pitched 7+ innings of shutout baseball to combine with the bullpen for a four-hitter. More amazing than that is the Dodgers won the game despite only having two hits! Russell Martin provided one of those hits in the sixth inning for the only run of the game. Wade LeBlanc was the tough luck loser for San Diego.

The Dodgers have now won seven straight games and 12 of 15 overall. The Padres are now only a half game over the Giants in the division.

Reds 7, Cardinals 2

For the first time since July 31 of last year, the Cardinals are out of first place in the NL Central.

Scott Rolen led the charge with a two-run first inning homer and another RBI single later on against his old club. Bronson Arroyo pitched a complete game, in what was another good start for him. He also drove in two runs, which drives me nuts because he always seems to burn the Cards with his bat.

After the Reds took 2 of 3 from the Cards at home, they have now taken a half game lead over the Redbirds for first place. That’s a spot they don’t intend on giving up, but they’ll have to play really well in order to maintain.

-Chris