One bad inning of relief decides the first contest.
The forecast pitcher’s duel between Brad Radke and Matt Garza lived up to its billing until fatigue brought in the bullpens. Then one inning decided the game.
Minneapolis hit three home runs in the seventh inning to pull ahead by four, holding off any attempt at a Berries comeback to take Game 1 of the Top Pick Series 6-3.
While both Garza and Radke held their opponents to two runs and four hits, including a Mitch Garver homer off Garza, they both saw their pitch limits skyrocket early. Both crossed the 100-pitch marker before being pulled, Radke at 104 after five and Garza at 106 with one additional out to his record.
Luke Bard and Ron Keller each threw a scoreless half-inning before the wheels fell off for Keller. Chuck Knoblauch opened the bottom of the seventh with a single before Reed gave the Winners the lead for good with his home run. Keller got the next two men to fly out, but Michael Cuddyer chased him with a solo shot; Jay Bell greeted incoming reliever Saul Rivera with another one-run longball.
Bloomington promptly got one run back in the eighth on Steve Braun’s home run, but Bard kept them from scoring further (completing a 2.2-inning relief outing), and Matt Fox quieted the Berries in the ninth with a one-walk, two-strikeout frame.
