April 11th Yankees @ Twins

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

New York (4-3) at Minnesota (4-3), 8:10 p.m. ET


RHP Mike Mussina (0-1, 13.50 ERA) vs. RHP Ramon Ortiz (1-0, 2.57 ERA)

Mussina tries to rebound
New York (4-3) at Minnesota (4-3), 8:10 p.m. ET
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

Mike Mussina will make his second start of the 2007 campaign on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, looking to follow up on the disappointing results of his first time around the rotation.
By escaping the chilly weather of New York City, the Yankees' starting staff has been buoyed, with Carl Pavano firing a quality start against the Twins on Monday and Andy Pettitte following with a second on Tuesday.

Now, it's the 38-year-old Mussina's turn to try his hand at the Metrodome, a facility in which he's had a good amount of past success. Mussina is 10-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 career starts at Minnesota.

The Twins will counter with right-hander Ramon Ortiz, who picked up a victory in his first start of the season for Minnesota. Ortiz faced the Yankees once last season as a member of the Washington Nationals and was hit hard in the June 17 start, surrendering seven runs (six earned) and 11 hits in a 4 1/3-inning no-decision.

Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP Mike Mussina (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
Mussina showed rust in his first start of 2007, giving up eight hits and six earned runs as the Orioles knocked him out of the game after four innings. In 28 career starts vs. the Twins, Mussina holds a 20-5 record with a 3.17 ERA, holding Minnesota batters to a .246 average.

MIN: RHP Ramon Ortiz (1-0, 2.57 ERA)
Ortiz allowed two runs over seven innings in his first start of the year against Baltimore. Against the Yankees, he holds a career 3-1 record with a 4.73 ERA.

Player to watch
Jason Tyner has had a bit of success against Mussina in his career. The Minnesota outfielder has eight hits in 26 at-bats (.308) against the veteran right-hander, including a double and four RBIs.

Twins turn to Ortiz to get back on track
New York (4-3) at Minnesota (4-3), 7:10 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com

The Twins' pitching during the first three games of the season gave hope that their starting rotation might be in better shape than first thought.
Unfortunately, things have not gone quite as well over the team's last four games. After posting just a 2.66 ERA in their season-opening series against the Orioles, the Twins have run up a 5.40 ERA in their last four contests, allowing 22 runs, including six home runs.

Poor pitching is not exactly something a club can afford when it faces a lineup of the New York Yankees' caliber.

"They are a very tough team, with veteran hitters and a couple of young guys that are good hitters, too," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "They know how to work the count. The big thing the Yankees do over there is, if you make a mistake, they make you pay for it."

The Yankees have made the Twins' pitchers pay during the first two games of the series, scoring 19 runs against the Twins' three. Mistakes up in the zone have proved costly, and the Twins hope that right-hander Ramon Ortiz can avoid making them when the teams match up for the final time at the Metrodome on Wednesday night.

After losing two straight to start the series, the Twins will try to salvage one game and get things going back on the right path.

"We have to figure out a way to come back here Wednesday night and get after them, and that's what we talked about in the clubhouse," Gardenhire said after Tuesday's 10-1 loss. "We'll try to come back out here and play a little better baseball game for our fans."

Pitching matchup
MIN: RHP Ramon Ortiz (1-0, 2.57 ERA)
All spring, Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson worked with Ortiz on staying tall on the mound and remaining calm, even when trouble arises. The extra work appears to have paid off, as Ortiz allowed just two runs over seven innings in his first start of the year against Baltimore. Ortiz appears to be pitching more to contact than in previous seasons, and that's something the Twins feel will help carry him through more innings. His next test will come against the Yankees, against whom he holds a career 3-1 record and a 4.73 ERA.

NYY: RHP Mike Mussina (0-1, 13.50 ERA)
Mussina showed rust in his first start of the 2007 season, giving up eight hits and six earned runs as the Orioles knocked him out of the game after four innings. It was the second time in as many days a Yankees starter couldn't pitch into the fifth inning. In 28 career starts vs. the Twins, Mussina has a 20-5 record with a 3.17 ERA, holding Minnesota batters to a .246 average.

Player to watch
Alex Rodriguez has hit .333 (16-for-48) off Ortiz in his career. But the real killer has been what Rodriguez has done with those hits. Eight of Rodriguez's 16 hits have been home runs, and he's totaled 13 RBIs off the Twins right-hander. He has also drawn 11 walks.

[jacksonianmarch]

ARod should be licking his chops.

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

Question for you betters out there:

Who will have the lower ERA after today's game? Mussina (13.50) or Ortiz (2.57)?

[TheKilo]

Originally Posted by 26 Reasons to Hate Us

Question for you betters out there:

Who will have the lower ERA after today's game? Mussina (13.50) or Ortiz (2.57)?

Ortiz.

[riverside sluggers]

Mike Mussina (28 games vs Minnesota, 20-5 record with a 3.17 ERA---Career at Metrodome in 15 games, 10-5 record with a 3.48 ERA)
Luis Castillo, 2 for 12 (.167 avg) 2 RBIs, 2 Ks
Nick Punto ---
Joe Mauer, 0 for 2, Walk, K
Michael Cuddyer, 2 for 2 (.222 avg) Double, K
Justin Morneau, 2 for 7 (.286 avg) Double, Walk, K
Torii Hunter, 8 for 38 (.211 avg) Double, HR, 2 RBIs, Walk, 9 Ks, 2 SBs
Jason Tyner, 8 for 26 (.308 avg) Double, 4 RBIs, K, SB
Mike Redmond, 2 for 6 (.333 avg) Double
Jason Bartlett ---
///
Jason Kubel, 0 for 3

Ramon Ortiz (12 games vs New York, 3-1 record with a 4.73 ERA---Career at Metrodome in 6 games, 1-3 record with a 6.82 ERA)
Johnny Damon, 7 for 29 (.241 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks, SB
Derek Jeter, 10 for 24 (.417 avg) 2 Doubles, 5 RBIs, 4 Walks, 6 Ks, 3 SBs
Bobby Abreu, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, Walk
Alex Rodriguez, 16 for 48 (.333 avg) 8 HRs, 13 RBIs, 11 Walks, 8 Ks, 4 SBs
Jason Giambi, 4 for 14 (.286 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 4 RBIs, 4 Walks, 2 Ks
Jorge Posada, 8 for 23 (.348 avg) HR, RBI, 2 Walks, 2 Ks
Robinson Cano, 2 for 2 (1.000 avg) Double, Walk
Josh Phelps, 3 for 11 (.273 avg) 2 RBIs, 3 Ks
Melky Cabrera, 0 for 3, K
///
Miguel Cairo, 0 for 7, 2 Walks, K
Doug Mientkiewicz, 5 for 23 (.217 avg) 3 Doubles, 5 RBIs, 6 Walks, 3 Ks

[jacksonianmarch]

we absolutely rake this guy.

[HeadOfSoxNation]

People I Would Not Like To Be At This Moment:

1.) Warren Moon
2.) Ramon Ortiz
3.) Adam123...but that just goes without saying

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by HeadOfSoxNation

People I Would Not Like To Be At This Moment:

1.) Warren Moon
2.) Ramon Ortiz
3.) Adam123...but that just goes without saying

adam is third? Wow.

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

adam is third? Wow.

you'd think Imus would be in there somewhere..

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by 26 Reasons to Hate Us

you'd think Imus would be in there somewhere..

I'd think adam is 1st.

[Optimist]

Moose has been pretty good against the Twins in his career, if I recall correctly. Let's hope that trend, along with the good pitching so far this series, continues.

And if A-Rod hits another HR tonight, I will name my firstborn after him.

[jacksonianmarch]

ARod HR today? Maybe 2?

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Moose has been pretty good against the Twins in his career, if I recall correctly. Let's hope that trend, along with the good pitching so far this series, continues.

And if A-Rod hits another HR tonight, I will name my firstborn after him.

20-5 overall vs Minny, pretty nice.

[jacksonianmarch]

Damon pops out to Morneau.

Jeter pops out to Hunter.

Ortiz doesnt have the heat he used to have. He used to throw high 90s and today he is sitting high 80s-92.

[jacksonianmarch]

1-6-3 DP. End of 1, 0-0.

Mussina looks a lot better today. Still only sitting 86-88, but that curveball is filthy today.