Target Field: Visit No. 2

First visit with the family to Target Field? Check. We made it to our first game as a family Friday night to see the Twins get a 2-1 win over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. To quote Dick Bremer, "It was a beautiful day for baseball."

We arrived at the park quite early, entering thought the main Gate 34, so we had a chance to admire the surroundings. The first task as we began to walk around the lower-level concourse was to locate our seats on the first-base side. We were far enough back in the section to be under the overhang, near the Twins dugout.

Taking a lap
We then made a walking-lap around the ballpark, taking it all in, and picking up some food along the way (More on that later.). Once we made a full "circle," we stopped near the FSNorth staging area so my mom could take a few pictures.

While we were hanging around there, Roy Smalley came through the area. Another fan was setting up to take a picture of him, which Roy noticed, so he offered to pose for a picture with the whole family. Then he made small talk with them. That was a nice gesture to see.

Same old story with the bats
The game itself wasn't the offensive outburst the Twins produced the night before in an 8-2 salvage-win over the Bronx Bombers. Instead, we were treated to more of the same from them: A lack of clutch hitting, more double plays and yet another high LOB (runners left on base) count.

Designated hitter Jim Thome had a chance twice with the M & M boys on base, but failed to produce. Then he came up with the bases empty and knocked a double down the right-field line. Go figure. And I believe yesterday's LOB count was something like 9, but don't hold me to that.

Joe Mauer drove in the team's two runs with an RBI-single in the third, and by hitting into a bases-loaded double play with nobody out in the fifth. Want DP stats? Mauer has already hit into 12 this season; it was 13 for all of last year. As a team, the Twins currently lead the majors as they have hit into 61 double plays.

I'm also not sure on the Twins' team average with the bases juiced, but it can't be above .200 (and that mark is being generous). With two months about to be in the books, clutch hitting for the Twins is still a struggling point.

The other side of the coin is if they can still win games (which they can) and still be in first place in the division (which they are), then who cares? True, but these stats are something that can be improved upon.

A home-run review and strong pitching
Anyway, I've already rambled on these things before. The game did have some exciting points. We experienced an umpire's review when the Ranger's Ian Kinsler hit a ball down the left-field line toward the foul pole. I didn't see where exactly the ball hit, but I saw it cross the pole on the foul side. Apparently, so did all the fans on the platform who were motioning foul.

The third-base umpire signaled a home run, but Gardy came out to make his case, and the umps headed in to look at the tape. They overturned the ruling, but Kinsler ended up scoring anyway, tying the game at one apiece.

Starter Kevin Slowey earned his sixth win by going 6-2/3 innings. He kept his pitch count manageable and, unlike his past outings, he didn't hit a wall in the fifth or sixth. Jose Mijares and Matt Guerrier came on in relief and didn't allow a run.

Then Jon Rauch came in to close things down. He gave up a hit, but finished off the game and redeemed himself for his loss and blown save in his previous couple outings. The crowd was up on its feet during the ninth, cheering the home team on to victory.

We hung around afterward to take a few pictures before heading out. It really was a beautiful night for baseball. A sunny day with temps in the 80s. What's not to like?