Kubel, Twins have their way with White Sox

ESPN.com

Updated: September 23, 2008

AP Photo/Hannah Foslien

Jason Kubel hit two homers to lead the Twins to a 9-3 win over the White Sox on Tuesday.

KUBEL PUSHES TWINS CLOSER TO AL CENTRAL LEAD

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

WEDNESDAY NIGHT BASEBALL
• Cubs at Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Twins' bats made the first statement in the opener of a crucial AL Central series with the White Sox, bashing Javier Vazquez in a 9-3 victory at the Metrodome.

There are few players in the major leagues who have the kind of power numbers against an opponent that Jason Kubel has against the White Sox. Kubel's powerful combination of two home runs and a triple provided a presence on a day that the top of the order didn't do much to set the table. Kubel moved the Twins to within 1½ games of first place and made it clear that he'll have an impact on the team's fate the rest of the season.

Kubel vs. White Sox (past two seasons)
BA .303
HRs 10
RBIs 35
Games 28

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: Sept. 22 | Sept. 21 | Sept. 18 | Sept. 17 | Sept. 16 | Sept. 15

STAYING SHARP IN FINAL WEEK

By Fernando Vina, ESPN

There is always a discussion in late September about how much players need to rest up for the postseason grind. It can be a little tricky, but the first thing you have to do is look at who a team's manager is. The Angels, Cubs, Rays and Red Sox all have clinched playoff berths. The managers (Mike Scioscia, Joe Madden, Lou Piniella and Terry Francona) have been around for a long time, and they are very good at juggling guys and getting them rest.

Some veteran guys who are dinged up might need a little bit more rest at this point in the year, but other guys won't need it, really. To be honest with you, when you know you are going to "showtime" on Oct. 1, rest is not something you're thinking much about. In fact, you don't even want it at this point. This time of year, as a hitter, you just want good at-bats. If you get a hit or don't get a hit, the important thing is to get a quality at-bat. You want to work the count and see some pitches. You want to have some good rhythm, feel balanced and have your mind right headed into the playoffs. You are thinking about just getting the regular season over with already so you can start playing that October baseball.

TOUCH 'EM ALL

Touch 'Em AllWho went deep? Keep track of all the home runs hit each day on "Baseball Tonight" and on the Baseball Tonight Clubhouse page.

Click here to find out who hit the longest home run. For more, check out the Home Run Tracker page.

NAME HR OPPPITCHER SITUATION
L. Montanez, Bal3TBShieldsBot 2: 0-1, 0 Outs. 1 on.
M. Aviles, KC9DetGarciaTop 1: 3-1, 1 Outs. None on.
R. Zimmerman, Was14FlaOlsenBot 1: 2-0, 1 Outs. 1 on.
J. Willingham, Fla13WasMartisTop 2: 3-2, 0 Outs. None on.
R. Shealy, KC7DetGarciaTop 4: 1-0, 0 Outs. None on.
A. Gordon, KC16DetGarciaTop 4: 1-1, 1 Outs. 1 on.
K. Youkilis, Bos27CleLeeBot 4: 1-1, 0 Outs. 1 on.
J. Giambi, NYY32TorLitschTop 4: 2-2, 1 Outs. None on.
J. Cust, Oak31TexNippertTop 2: 3-2, 0 Outs. None on.
K. Matsui, Hou6CinVolquezBot 1: 0-2, 0 Outs. None on.
R. Ludwick, StL35AriJohnsonBot 1: 0-1, 1 Outs. 2 on.
J. Kubel, Min19CWSVazquezBot 2: 2-2, 0 Outs. 1 on.
T. Buck, Oak5TexNippertTop 3: 0-1, 1 Outs. 1 on.
C. Kotchman, Atl2PhiHamelsTop 6: 0-0, 2 Outs. None on.
C. Young, Ari21StLLohseTop 4: 0-0, 0 Outs. 1 on.
M. Montero, Ari5StLLohseTop 6: 2-0, 2 Outs. None on.
C. Ross, Fla22WasHanrahanTop 9: 1-1, 1 Outs. None on.
H. Blalock, Tex10OakEmbreeBot 7: 1-2, 2 Outs. 1 on.
J. Kubel, Min20CWSLoganBot 7: 0-0, 1 Outs. None on.
D. Young, Min10CWSLoganBot 7: 0-0, 1 Outs. None on.
N. Garciaparra, LAD7SDLeBlancBot 1: 2-0, 0 Outs. 2 on.
G. Matthews Jr., LAA8SeaFeierabendTop 2: 2-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.
S. Pearce, Pit2MilMotaTop 8: 0-1, 0 Outs. 1 on.
E. Longoria, TB26BalSimonTop 8: 0-0, 2 Outs. None on.
K. Griffey Jr., CWS2MinGuerrierTop 9: 2-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.
S. Smith, Col4SFLincecumTop 3: 0-0, 0 Outs. None on.
M. Napoli, LAA19SeaFeierabendTop 4: 3-1, 0 Outs. 2 on.
P. Fielder, Mil34PitBeamBot 9: 2-0, 2 Outs. 1 on.
B. DeWitt, LAD8SDHaegerBot 5: 3-2, 0 Outs. 2 on.
T. Tulowitzki, Col8SFMatosTop 8: 0-0, 0 Outs. None on.

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BBTN ON THE AIR: WEDNESDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
10 p.m. ET
ESPN		 Host: Karl Ravech
Analysts: John Kruk, Fernando Vina,
Tim Kurkjian
12 a.m. ET
ESPN		 Host: Karl Ravech
Analysts: John Kruk, Fernando Vina,
Tim Kurkjian

BBTN MINUTE: TWINS, BREWERS STILL ALIVE

TUESDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

GOOD
Prince Fielder• Prince Fielder bailed out the Milwaukee bullpen after it gave up the lead in the eighth inning. Fielder drilled a game-ending, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep the Brewers within a game of the NL wild card.
BAD
Jamie Walker• The Orioles gave up six runs in the eighth inning against the Rays in a 7-5 loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Starter Alfredo Simon gave up the first two runs, but at least he recorded a pair of outs in the inning. Reliever Jamie Walker gave up the last four runs -- but didn't record an out.
UGLY
Javier Vazquez• Javier Vazquez was challenged by manager Ozzie Guillen, and he responded by giving up seven hits and five runs in four innings of 9-3 loss against the Twins at the Metrodome.

FORWARD THINKING: WEDNESDAY

Brett Myers • Braves at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET: After losing a close one Tuesday night against the Braves, the Phillies' lead in the NL East is down to 1½ games over the Mets. Brett Myers is coming off his worst start of the season, which is saying something considering how he started the year. Myers (10-12, 4.46 ERA) lasted four innings against Florida, giving up nine hits and 10 runs. Jo-Jo Reyes (3-11, 5.74 ERA) had a decent first month to the season, but he hasn't been very good since. Reyes is 0-7 since June 13.

Oliver Perez • Cubs at Mets, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN: Johan Santana took care of business Tuesday night. Now, it's Oliver Perez's turn. While Santana hasn't lost in a remarkable 16 starts, Perez has a decent streak going himself. Perez (10-7, 4.10 ERA) has not lost since Aug. 3, going 3-0 over a nine-start stretch. The Mets are 7-2 in those games. Which Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.77 ERA) will go to the mound is the question -- the one who no-hit the Astros two starts ago or the one who gave up eight runs in 1 2/3 innings in his most recent start?

Jeff Suppan • Pirates at Brewers, 8:05 p.m. ET: The Brewers came back with a dramatic win Tuesday night. Jeff Suppan (10-10, 5.06 ERA) may not be the best pitcher to keep things going. He is on a three-game losing streak and has given up at least four runs in each of his past four outings while not going longer than 5 1/3 innings in any of them. Paul Maholm (9-8, 3.68 ERA) is 0-2 in four starts against Milwaukee this season.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Wednesday's games

STAT OF THE DAY

Inside EdgeAccording to Inside Edge's scouting data, relief pitchers throw slightly more fastballs (66 pct. of pitches) than starting pitchers (63%). Here are the extreme fastball and non-fastball pitchers around the league:

Fastballs vs. non-fastballs
Category Pitcher Pct.
Highest fastball pct. (starter) Aaron Cook 82.8
Lowest fastball pct. (starter) Tim Wakefield 12.6
Highest fastball pct. (reliever) Mariano Rivera 100.0
Lowest fastball pct. (reliever) Michael Wuertz 36.6

FANTASY: PREVIEW OF WEDNESDAY'S GAMES

FantasySean Allen examines the pitching matchups in store for the 15 games on Wednesday's schedule.

Allen also looks at injuries and details player reports that could help shape the way you put together your roster for Wednesday. Daily Notes