Bigger wins, but not better

I have so many things to list what went right tonite against the Twins. We've defeated opponents by bigger scores this year (Rangers and Pirates), and we've had more satisfying wins (at least to me--the Braves) but this was just a great team effort, and baseball how it should be played. I would call this our best win tho.

First off the pitching. I didn't pull Grant because of any issue with him. I just wanted to get CJ some work. Those two guys combined for only 47 pitches. Grant had 43 in 3 innings work. I'll take 14 pitch innings any time. But CJ topped him. He got out of his only inning on 4 pitches. Nick Moore managed to get the count to 1-0 before popping up to Jerald. For CJ's other two pitches, he got Parker Witthuhn to line out to Grant, and CJ took care of biz himself on the last pitch, on a ground out to him, which he threw over to Will at first. So CJ really didn't get much work after all. But he was one pitch from a perfect inning.

Now the other thing about the pitching is that it was not blow them away, strike out baseball. Grant only struck out one Twin tonite (and CJ none of course). That is almost unheard of any LL baseball for a winning team. Another case of rarity popped up tonite. I cannot recall a team winning a game, and having striking out their opponent once. Amazing. Half of their team only batted once tonite.

And the win is totally on the team, not just one guy. Our defense was outstanding tonite. Heck, since the game was short, I will review the Twins at bats. Matt with a nice catch in right field, then Grant to Jerald for the 2nd out. Then the Twins got a base hit. We had our only crazy throw of the night at that time. Then Mickey ended the inning with a great play from 3rd to 1st for the out, so we stranded their runner.

In the 2nd, Jerald caught a line out, then the only other base hit of the night for the Twins to right field. Cody came in on it, then it went over his head. We remind the guys not to do that, Cody knows better, but he has all sorts of credits with me for his nice catch in left in the Braves game. Then Grant had his only strikeout, then CJ fielded the ball at SS, and stepped on 2nd for the forceout.

In the 3rd, a popup to Grant, a popup to CJ, our lone walk allowed, and then Will with his kooky barehanded fielding at first base for the out. And then we already reviewed CJ's 4th. Just great defense.

And that is why I hate walks. When the pitcher is throwing strikes, the defense stays awake, and is more prepared for hit balls. When they have to stand out there for ball after ball after ball, they fall asleep, get bored, and are not prepared to field balls when they do end up getting hit.

And to that, the Twins walked us just enough times to cause them problems, because we were able to hit the ball well tonite, surrounding those walks. Everybody but 2 guys scored tonite for us. Jerald had a nice 3 for 3, Grant was 3 for 3 in on base percentage, with 2 walks and a hit, and Mickey reached both times he was up--for a walk, and a reach on an error.

So it is the Mets on Saturday. I might do family photo day that day if it is nice, so stay tuned for that. We will not have a practice this Friday, due to field space issues. But encourage the guys to keep working--play catch with their buddies (or parents), have them hit wiffle balls.