Game #6 - 8-Donut

The Twins lost to the White Sox on the South Side on Saturday afternoon, 8-0. Ouch. It was as ugly as it looks. Bartolo Colon - yeah, he's still pitching in the big leagues - shut the Twins out through 6 innings, and the Chicago bullpen held them off the rest of the way. The Twins are now 3-3 and have been shut out two of their last three games (shutouts sandwich a 15-hit, 12-run performance on Friday night).

Francisco Liriano was rotten in his second start, dropping to 0-2 on the season. He went 4.2 innings, giving up 6 hits, 4 walks, and 5 runs. He walked in two runs in the 5th inning. Philip Humber was also lit up Saturday, surrendering 4 hits and 3 runs in just 2/3 of an inning.

Michael Cuddyer and Nick Punto had two hits apiece for the Twins. Denard Span walked three times, pushing his OBP through the first week of the season to a healthy .481. If the Twins can get the patience Span has shown the first week to last all season, they'll be ecstatic.

The decisive third game of the series is Sunday afternoon, when Nick Blackburn will oppose Mark Buehrle.

Elsewhere in the AL Central:

• Toronto 5, Cleveland 4 - The Indians dropped to 0-5, and reigning Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee fell to 0-2 in Cleveland's loss to Toronto. Lee went 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, walking 4, and surrendering 4 runs. Toronto's Roy Halladay improved to 2-0 with 7 solid innings. The Indians made a game of it in the 9th with 3 runs off closer B.J. Ryan, forcing Jason Frasor to close for his first save.
• Detroit 4, Texas 3 - The Tigers came back to beat Texas with some timely hitting by Adam Everett (2 RBI) and solid pitching (the staff surrendered only 2 hits). The Detroit bullpen pitched 4 innings of no-hit baseball to secure the win. Justin Verlander was better in his second start, going 5 innings, and overcoming 4 walks to limit Texas to 2 runs in a no-decision.
• NY Yankees 6, Kansas City 1 - The Yanks got off to a fast start, scoring 2 runs in the top of the 1st and adding pairs of runs in the 3rd and 5th innings to beat Kansas City. C.C. Sabathia was great in his second New York start, going 7.2 shutout innings. KC starter Horacio Ramirez surrendered all 6 runs in 4.1 innings pitched.

Around the Twins' Minors:

• AAA - Syracuse 3, Rochester 0 - The Red Wings are now 2-1 after the Chiefs' Kip Wells, Tyler Clippard, and Jason Bergmann combined to shut Rochester out on 8 hits. Anthony Swarzak lost for the Red Wings, giving up one unearned run in 4 innings.
• AA - New Britain 5, New Hampshire 1 - The Rock Cats improved to 1-3 as Cole DeVries was solid in his start, giving up just 3 hits and 1 run in 5.1 innings. Wilson Ramos went 3-5 with a HR and 2 RBI, and Yancarlos Ortiz and Juan Portes had 2 hits apiece.
• High A - Ft. Myers 11, Charlotte 6 - The Miracle is now 3-0 after spanking Charlotte. Ben Revere was 3-6 with a HR and 3 RBI, and Chris Parmelee also homered. Deibinson Romero and Chris Cates also had 3 hits apiece. Romero batted home 3 runs, and Joe Benson went 2-5 with a double and 2 RBI. David Bromberg started for the Miracle, and was adequate in 4.1 innings.
• Low A - Cedar Rapids 9, Beloit 4 - The Snappers are now 0-3 after a bullpen meltdown against Cedar Rapids. Beloit surrendered 7 unanswered runs after taking a 4-2 lead in the top of the 6th inning. Steve Blevins took the loss in relief, and did not retire a batter, surrendering 3 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs. Eli Tintor and Angel Morales each doubled for Beloit.

Here's a musical number by Toto. Have a great Easter Sunday!