Well, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that the A's go for the series win today against the Twins.
Also good news is that the A's have scored an equal number of runs as the Twins in this series.
The bad news is that the run total for both teams so far is 3.
Normally, the A's would be excited about the presence of Gaudin on the mound, whose season ERA total is only second to his teammate, Dan Haren.
But looming across the mound is the perennial Cy Young candidate, Johan Santana. If the script goes as written, today should be a fantastic pitching performance, although I'm not sure it could have been better than last night's. Gaudin needs to repeat Blanton's performance, and we will have to rely on our offense to scratch out a run or two.
But these are the match-ups you live for in baseball, so sit back, relax, and root for the A's while hopefully enjoying an amazing game.
Lineups
Minnesota
Castillo
Punto
Cuddyer
Morneau
Hunter
Redmond
Kubel
Bartlett
Tyner
Oakland
Stewart, LF .274
Ellis, 2B .242
Swisher, RF .300
Johnson, 1B .300
Chavez, 3B .230
Crosby, SS .247
Cust, DH .233
Kotsay, CF .143
Kendall, C .194
For the record, I love Ellis' right-handed bat moved up in the lineup against Johan.
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!
