(My Sportsbook) - Mark Mulder punished the Twins for having the audacity to actually win the first game of the series in Oakland, and now the series is all tied up at one game apiece.
From Minnesota's perspective, going back to the Metrodome with one win is much more than a moral victory. The Twins had a lot to prove in Oakland, where they had been swept a month ago in a three-game series, and have to be pleased with the overall outcome.
Game 1 couldn't have followed Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire's strategy more perfectly. The Twins held a lead through six innings, and relievers Johan Santana, J.C. Romero and Eddie Guardado shut the door in the final frames in Minnesota's 7-5 victory.
The Twins fell behind 5-1 after just two innings while making three errors, and it appeared as though the A's would have an easy time cruising to victory. However, Oakland starter Tim Hudson wasn't at his best and allowed four runs through 5 1/3 innings. Just as quickly as the A's started, they faded. Oakland didn't score a run over the final seven innings as Brad Radke settled in and the bullpen held firm.
In Wednesday's game, the A's sent Mulder to the mound and the lefthander made quite a statement. He allowed five hits over six innings, one of which was a solo homer by Cristian Guzman for Minnesota's lone run, in Oakland's 9-1 triumph. So much for the Minnesota momentum.
Twins starter Joe Mays was thumped for six runs through just 3 2/3 innings.
"I didn't do my job," Mays said. "They were going after the sinker down and away, and I didn't effectively pitch inside. That's what I get. They know I'm a sinkerball pitcher, and they just went out there and got it.
"I was a little tensed up. I was too wired. I was cutting pitches off and sinking them down to the dirt."
Gardenhire, who may take some heat for even giving Mays the start in such a critical game, thought the Twins never got into any kind of rhythm.
"I felt that we were out there too long," Gardenhire said. "Every inning, it was ball one, ball two, strike one, strike two, ball three. He just never got into the flow. Every inning, we were out there with two guys on."
In Game 2, Oakland raced out to another early lead but carried it through to the finish. With the big win under their belts, the A's are relieved to get back to their usual style of play.
"It was good to see us bounce back," said Scott Hatteberg, who finished 2- "It was good to see us bounce back," said Scott Hatteberg, who finished 2- for-4 with one run scored and an RBI. "We jumped out to a lead again, and as well as Mark was throwing, we could have sat back and jumped on his shoulders. s. But instead we kept at it, didn't get frustrated, and finally broke through. It's very satisfying."
Miguel Tejada, who laced an RBI double on Wednesday after a disappointing Game 1, is eager to continue where his team left off.
"Tuesday was frustrating, very frustrating," Tejada said after going 1-for-4. "We quit playing and they didn't. So today we knew we had to keep playing, keep swinging the bats, keep scoring runs.
"They play too hard to let up against them, and today we played hard for nine innings. Now we're even. Now the fun begins."
Each team has seen the other's strengths over the first two games of this best-of-five set, but it's Oakland which may have more left in the tank. Sure, nobody likes to play in the Metrodome, but lefthander Barry Zito is just the man to overcome the inhospitable environment.
For the Twins to defeat the 23-game winner on Friday, they have to battle like they did in Game 1. Minnesota starter Rick Reed can't get off to a slow start, or else the A's will get the upper hand in the series. All indications point to another big Oakland win on Friday, since Mulder and Zito are two of the best lefties in the game and the Twins struggle against southpaws.
Zito, arguably the best of the best in the American League, holds the key in Game 3. Everything else hinges on his performance.
"He's a fastball, curveball guy for lefties," Doug Mientkiewicz said of the Cy Young candidate. "Granted, it's one of the best curveballs in the game. It's hard to say anything is easier against a guy who has 23 wins. We're not going to bunch a lot of things together off him either. Hopefully, the curse of the Metrodome will get him again."
Minnesota's offensive catalyst, Torii Hunter, thinks the Twins need to be patient with Zito and wait for a rare opportunity.
"With a guy like [Zito] you have to take what he gives you, and he usually doesn't give you much," Hunter said. "You have to take advantage of any opportunity you might have. You want to make him work on every pitch, don't give him any easy outs, because he certainly doesn't need any help from us."
Reed is one of the few players with any playoff experience on Minnesota's roster, but that won't help much come Friday. The Twins aren't going to roll over for anyone, but Zito may sit them down.
