If you can’t beat them anyone, join them the Pirates.
That’s how Twins fans should be thinking as another torturous 90 loss season for the Twins comes to a end.
The Pirates’ best pitcher most of the season has been Francisco Liriano. Their new first baseman is a man that Minnesotans will likely love and cherish forever — Justin Morneau.
While Liriano has posted a 16-7 record with a 2.88 earned-run average , it was Morneau who fired a perfect 60-foot relay throw to the plate to help the Pirates clinch a playoff berth for the first time in 21 years.
Here’s how Morneau described the play, according to the Pittsburgh Press-Review:
“Not too often is there going to be a play at home on that kind of ball. I stay at first and try to keep (the batter) at first and drift toward the middle once I see something different happen. Then saw it kick away … I go back to the instincts. Something told me to go there.”
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Star Tribune that he’s happy for Morneau, “to say the least.”
Pittsburgh has clinched a Wild Card spot, but they still have an outside chance to run down the NL Central leading St. Louis Cardinals.
