导出博客文章MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota is now the worst Twins team since 2011. With more than
a week left to season, more marks are likely to fall.Justin Upton and Victor
Martinez homered as the Detroit Tigers picked up another win in the AL wild-card
chase, beating Minnesota 9-2 Thursday in the opener of a day-night
doubleheader.Upton hit a tiebreaking homer off Alex Wimmers (1-3) in the seventh
for a 2-1 lead. Jose Iglesias had a sacrifice fly in the eighth and Martinez hit
a three-run homer against Pat Light in a six-run ninth.Weve seen a lot of those
games that seem to deteriorate late, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. Youre
hoping your guys can keep it close and give your offense a chance to somehow get
even or take the lead late. But weve had a tendency to put some crooked numbers
up late on the wrong side of the board.Brian Dozier led off the bottom of the
first with his 42nd homer, one behind major league leader Mark Trumbo of
Baltimore.Minnesota has lost five straight and dropped to a big league-worst
55-97, its most losses since they went 63-99 in 2011.The offense is having a
tough time, Molitor said. Were not putting much together. Some guys are
scuffling. Were trying to find a way to create some offense. It just isnt
happening right now.The makeup of Wednesday nights rainout drew an announced
paid crowd of 18,374, but there were a lot fewer spectators to actually show up.
Fans in the small crowd could be heard calling out to the players on several
occasions.The one thing is you can hear every single thing said in the stands,
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. When you have a big crowd, everything is kind
of just a buzz. But you could hear every single thing said; they had some fairly
good barbs thrown out.Pat Dean made his first start since Aug. 31, when he gave
up six runs in 4 1/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland. The only run he allowed
Thursday was when Cameron Maybin scored in the first on a double-play grounder
by Miguel Cabrera.I was trying to stay locked in and focused on getting the
hitters, Dean said. It was definitely a little weird being able to hear
everybody have their conversations off on the side.Anibal Sanchez allowed one
run and two hits in five innings in a spot start for Detroit, and Alex Wilson
(4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.Ervin Santana (7-10)
was to start for Minnesota against Justin Verlander (14-8) in the night
game.AMONG SECONDSDozier has an AL record 40 homers as a second baseman, one
more than Alfonso Sorianos total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922),
Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more.Dozier
extended his hitting streak to 24 games, tied for the third-longest in Twins
history.Its unfortunate for him that he hasnt been able to celebrate a lot of
those home runs with the losses, Molitor said. Impressive run continues, hitting
streaks alive.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: DH/3B Miguel Sano (lower back tightness) was
back in the lineup for the first time since Sept. 12. Manager Paul Molitor said
Sano was still sore but was anxious to return. ... Molitor confirmed RHP Trevor
May has a stress fracture in his back. May was 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA in 44 relief
appearances. He made three trips to the DL with the injury, which hadnt been
detected in previous exams.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-10) is slated to
make his final home start of the season on Friday against Seattle, which will
start LHP James Paxton (4-7).
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the goalkeeper to beat. October 28 Welcome to the world of modern travel, where
everything goes via the Middle East. Even the route from Cape Town to Perth. On
a map, it seems the best way to get from one to the other is along a straight
line through the southern hemisphere. On an airline schedule, thats not
possible. Instead, I will spend nine and a half hours going up to Dubai and then
ten and a half hours going down. Add the changeover in Dubai and it means a full
24 hours of travel, and with the time differences, I will arrive two days after
I left. Say what?October 29 I think today is Saturday but Im not really sure. I
feel trapped in a time warp I dont understand.October 30 Touch down in Perth
around 2am. Decide to normalise by sleeping and then force myself to get to the
series launch around midday. Its a public event, at Elizabeth Quay, which is
also set-up for Diwali festivities. A decent-sized group of people has come to
see the Australian and South African teams, and the players are introduced
individually. Most get a cheer - David Warner and Dale Steyn louder than the
others - but when Dane Vilas walks out, there is complete silence. Poor
guy.October 31 Welcome to the world of modern sports media, where the press
conference is the most common method of communication. We have no fewer than
nine interviews here. Australia put up six players in an open media session,
South Africa three. Our heads are swimming with quotes. The most interesting
things to come out of the day are Usman Khawajas views on diversity and the
Australian fascination with Temba Bavuma. At 1.61 metres, Bavuma is among the
shorter sportsmen around and has to field several questions about how he has
adapted his technique to his height. Bavuma seems a bit bewildered by the
attention but answers the questions as carefully as he can.November 1 The race
that stops Australia will be run today, and though Im not in Melbourne, its
still a big deal. Im familiar with showstoppers like this - we in South Africa
have the Met in January and the Durban July (you know when) - but the Melbourne
Cup is a little different. Across Australia, people dress up as though they are
at the venue itself, and at 3pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, time stands
still. I havent quite got used to the time zone yet, and around noon Im heading
to the WACA, wondering why the streets are deserted. When I realise the gun is
about to go, I get a move on and get there just in time to pop my head into the
guards hut and see the end of the race.November 2 The day before a big Test
series is a usually a frenzy of last-minute previews. We wind down with a
traditional barbeque at a local journalists home. Our hosts daughter is doing a
project on the Democratic Republic of Congo and I offer to help. How often do
you go back to Africa? she asks me. I live there, I tell her, as her eyes widen
in disbelief.November 3 South Africa stumble through the first day on a pitch
with better bounce and carry than I have seen in months. Later we all stumble
around on a walking tour, organised by Tourism Western Australia. The idea is to
roam the laneways to discover how Perth is Melbournising, and stop at bars along
the way. Our guide has the remarkable ability to talk to us while walking
backwards. She doesnt lose her step once, not even on St Georges Terrace, said
to be the windiest street in the southern hemisphere. At our second and last
stop, our holiday-making UK colleague Andrew McGlashan joins us.November 4
Theres an awful feeling when Steyn goes down, clutching his shoulder, with a
look on his face worse than when he left the field against India and England
last summer. I suspect its serious but first need to turn attention to the
remarkable comeback the rest of South Africas attack are staging. At the end of
the day we discover Steyn will be out of action for at least six months.November
5 It is due to be 37 degrees today, so I choose a simple T-shirt-style dress to
wear. When I arrive at the WACA, at the gate the media use (which is also the
members gate), security staff stop me. My dress is too short. The members dress
code dictates that dresses must sit no more than 5cm above the knee. Im quite
sure mine is not shorter than that, but they disagree. After a protracted
discussion - during which one woman is told shee isnt allowed in because the
straps on her top are too thin - I am admitted but told not to leave the press
box through the day.dddddddddddd Inevitably I have to and am warned a second
time. Another journalist tweets about it and a social-media storm erupts.That
evening I see Steyn waiting for an Uber in the city centre. He has just got off
a train from visiting his uncle in a suburb about 40 minutes away. He admits his
shoulder is very sore and says he is resigned to a lengthy period on the
sidelines and that he is not going to try and rush back. He will leave Perth
tomorrow night, so wont see the result, which looks headed South Africas
way.November 6 I pick a dress that extends to my ankles today, but my colleague
Melinda Farrell doesnt. She also bares her shoulders. She is reprimanded at the
gate, and now that the rest of the press pack know about the issue, another
social-media storm erupts. To the WACAs credit, their stadium manager visits us
and apologises profusely. He assures us we both look fine.November 7 I wear
pants today but am stopped at the gate yet again. No thongs allowed, says the
staff member. I present the media argument again. I am let in. This time, both
Melinda and I receive an email apology from the WACA CEO. She says the members
code will be reviewed and the ground wants to bring about change. We didnt enjoy
the attention over our choice of clothing but were pleased weve achieved
something. South Africa have too - the series lead. Given how far they had
fallen last summer, their dominance is unexpected.November 8 Hobart is the only
destination on this tour that Ive not been to before, so I am particularly
looking forward to being there. Its Australias second oldest city and one with
an extensive convict history. Ive just finished reading Alex Haleys Roots, and I
want to find something similar but Australian. Ive been recommended For the Term
of his Natural Life by Marcus Clarke and I make it my mission to track it down -
if I can ever feel my fingers again; its cold in Hobart. November 9 I was warned
to expect less than summery conditions in Hobart but I didnt anticipate a wind
so icy it threatens to freeze the blood in my veins. Not to make this all about
my wardrobe but I need more clothes. Cricket Tasmanias digital-media manager,
Michelle Cooling, offers to lend me some. Among them is a Hobart Hurricanes
hoodie. Shes got a fan for life.November 10 Still havent managed to get to a
bookshop but I am enjoying learning about the local food. Melinda takes me to
Mures, a seafood establishment on the harbour, where we splash out on all the
regions delicacies. Oysters done four ways, scallops, white fish, even a dessert
of chocolate tarts. Its definitely among the best meals Ive ever eaten.November
11 A cannon being towed by a Ute rolls past on my morning run, headed to the
Anzac Parade. Its Remembrance Day. The colonial history is more marked here than
anywhere else in Australia Ive seen, especially in the architecture. The Queen
Victoria Clock Tower, now home to the General Post Office, was built by public
subscription and has become one of my favourite landmarks.November 12 Theres no
rain yet but Australia are drowned anyway. Vernon Philander rolls back the years
and takes 5 for 21. Its an even better performance than on his debut. After
suffering torn ankle ligaments last season, he seems to have regained confidence
and become even better than what we thought was his best. As I leave the ground,
I see the Australian team bus, driven by Nathan Lyon, pull up next to Philander,
who is walking to the South African bus. Lyon rolls down the window and
congratulates Philander. Sportsmanship is still alive.November 13 The expected
rain is finally here, and as the day progresses, it only gets heavier. When we
arrive at the ground, the teams have not even turned up. We know its only a
matter of time before play is called off. It happens at 2pm. I squeeze in a trip
to the Hobart Book Shop and pick up a copy of Clarkes book. Im reminded that
this time last year I was in Bangalore, covering the washout that was AB de
Villiers 100th Test. Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain. ' ' '
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