The Twins have lost 12 of their last 13 games and are now trying to keep their collective cool.
It’s not easy. Just ask first baseman Justin Morneau. He tells the Star Tribune that pent up frustration is to blame for his angry outburst during Friday night’s 2-0 loss to the Yankees in New York.
Morneau struck out in the 7th inning with runners in scoring position. He flipped his bat, swore at the umpire and slammed his helmet to the field, reports the paper.
“I guess it’s just frustration boiling over, Morneau told the paper, adding that the tantrum was unacceptable behavior.
“That’s something that shouldn’t happen. There’s a lot of kids that watch, and if it’s my kid out there, I don’t want to see him throwing his helmet in Little League,” Morneau said. “This hasn’t been a fun time.”
No doubt. The Twins are now a season high 16 games below .500 and 13 games out of first place in the AL Central.
They’ll try to stop the slide Saturday at 12:05 p.m. in game two of the series. Samuel Deduno will get the start for the Twins while Phil Hughes will take the mound for the Yankees.
Deduno is 4-4 on the season, with a 3.90 ERA, in nine starts.
Hughes, meanwhile, through 17 starts, is 4-8 with a 4.55 ERA.
