Inside the Box: D-backs hold off Twins
May 21, 2011, 3:58 AM | Updated: 5:05 am
After every Arizona Diamondbacks game we’ll examine the
box score and provide you with instant analysis. So it’s
time to go Inside the Box for May 20, 2011: Diamondbacks 8, Twins 7
The Arizona Diamondbacks were able to hold on for a wild 8-7 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
The game started off as a pitchers duel as Ian Kennedy and Brian Duensing were impressive with Minnesota up 2-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning.
That’s where the game turned into an offensive explosion.
Arizona put up a five-spot on Minnesota in the seventh inning and tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning, but struggled to close out the game giving up five runs of their own in the eighth and ninth inning.
Joe Paterson was the hero of the night coming into the game in the ninth inning and closing it out.
Paterson came in with the bases loaded and only one out trying to protect a one-run lead.
He managed to strike out Jason Kubel and then got Justin Morneau to ground out to halt Minnesota’s comeback attempt.
Paterson still hasn’t given up any earned runs throughout the entire season.
Lost in the shuffle was another good performance from Ian Kennedy.
He only gave up two runs through the first seven innings before tiring and having to come out in the eighth inning.
Unfortunately, it was a rare rough night for the Arizona bullpen as Aaron Heilman, Juan Gutierrez and David Hernandez struggled mightily to get anybody out.
Hernandez specifically struggled, as he was unable to find the strike zone, issuing three walks and being unable to get the save in the ninth inning.
Offensively for the D-backs, Stephen Drew, Miguel Montero, Kelly Johnson and Xavier Nady all had two hits, but Ryan Roberts had the biggest one, a 3-run double in the seventh inning.
Arizona(21-23) continues their interleague series against the Twins tomorrow.
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