Game Recap #16 Minnesota Twins @ Cincinnati Reds

For the last day of interleague play in the 2012 MLB season, we are treated to a game of teams that have their own, unique histories with very little overlap. The visiting Minnesota Twins have had their ups and downs throughout the existence of the teams, but do not incite a natural rivalry with their hosts, the Cincinnati Reds, best known for the Big Red Machine of the 1970s. Today, with lineups toned down much from their respective heydays, the two teams meet in Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. The scoring in this game was quiet, with both teams struggling for offense in the first and second innings. Cincinnati finally broke through in the third inning, as catcher Devin Mesoraco doubled on Twins starter Scott Diamond, and he came home on a single by utility man Wilson Valdez. Diamond lost control, plunking the next two batters to load the bases, but he worked from the jam and kept the score at 1-0. The fourth inning was quiet, but Minnesota evened the score in the fifth inning as their own utility man Trevor Plouffe took Reds starter Mike Leake deep for a solo home run. Offense remained a struggle throughout the game, allowing both pitchers to work deep, and as such it was Leake who gave up a Joe Mauer single and Josh Willingham double in the seventh inning, before ceding a Justin Morneau groundout to get Mauer home. With his team ahead in the eighth inning, Diamond choked up a Valdez single, and then all-star first baseman Joey Votto put Cincinnati back in front with a two-run blast to left field. Leake turned the ball over to closer Aroldis Chapman for the ninth inning, but the flamethrower pitcher gave up a double to Mauer and found himself in a bit of trouble with only one out. Mauer was lifted for the speedier Denard span, but his speed wasn't needed when Willingham drilled a home run ball into the left field seats, making it 4-3 for the Twins. Diamond turned things over to interim situational closer Jared Burton for the bottom of the ninth, and after walking both Todd Frazier and Scott Rolen, he was able to shut the door and preserve the win. Diamond worked eight innings, giving up eight hits, one walk, and three earned runs while striking out seven, and while it wasn't a gem, it was good enough for the win, while Burton got the save for his inning of duty, and Leake pitched eight innings with just five hits yielding two earned runs, but he came away with no decision after Chapman blew the save. This concludes the interleague with play, with all teams returning to their respective leagues for the rest of the season, but this game proved to be a thriller, an excellent way to wrap things up.