29-20: Welcome to the Terror…Field

(viva la Fangraphs)

For five innings, C. J. Wilson outdueled Carl Pavano, allowing just a couple of hits and no runs whatsoever. Then Orlando Hudson jacked a game-tying donger off of Wilson in the sixth. And then all hell broke loose in the bottom of the seventh, when the Twins apparently figured Wilson (and the Rangers’ bullpen) out, scoring six more runs and apparently putting the game to bed. Um, and then they gave a run back in the top of the eighth, thanks to a couple of errors by J. J. Hardy and Jason Kubel. Jesse Crain pitched pretty OK, but Hardy botched a routine ground ball and Kubel couldn’t quite hit cutoff man Orlando Hudson, allowing a run to score. It was the first time the Twins had committed two errors in one inning all season long. Errors may not be the best way to measure defensive efficiency, but if your team can make it a third of the way through the season without committing two errors in one inning, they’re probably pretty good average. Fortunately, Crain managed to emerge without any further damage, and then the Dunce closed things out in the ninth.

Best hitter:

For the second game in a row, it’s Orlando Hudson. His .256 WPA is waaaay better than the second and third-best hitters in this game: Mr. Not-Clutch (.101) and the Delmonster (.079).

Worst hitter:

Isn’t the answer always Brendan Harris (-.066 WPA)? When it isn’t Drew Butera or Nick Punto, that is?

Best pitcher:

Carl Pavano, .176 WPA. The smartest pitcher in baseball scattered seven hits through seven innings, walking one, striking out only one, and allowing a pair of runs. Gosh, if it weren’t for the meltdown by Wilson and co. in the seventh, Pavano would likely be the worst pitcher of the game.

Worst pitcher:

Jesse Crain, .007 WPA. Because those errors by Hardy and Kubel are somehow Jesse Crain’s fault. How dare he expect the defense behind him to make routine plays!

Most important play of the game:

Orlando Hudson’s game-tying homer off of C.J. Wilson in the seventh (.284 WPA).