Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins - game 2

Although there were no tickets left for Saturday's game when I bought the other two on Thursday, after Friday night's game, I visited the ticket window, as the ticket man on Thursday had suggested that sometimes tickets may have been withheld until the last minute or returned.

I got the last seat for Saturday's game.

This final seat was in the Legends Club again, section A this time, but in the wheelchair row again, which was an excellent place. The views are just as good as from section L on the other side. This was a day game, and first pitch happened on schedule, as all the ceremonials had been carried out much earlier in the day. I arrived about 15 minutes before the start of the game, as the hotel had had some trouble with my door: the cleaner's key couldn't open it; the hotel's maintenance guy's key couldn't open it; my own key worked perfectly! The maintenance guy said that as long as my key was working, he wasn't going to tamper with the system and potentially break it! However, they must have sorted out the problem, because my room had been serviced when I got back from the ballgame.

As a contest, this game was over by the end of the 1st inning, as the Twins managed to bat around and take a 5-0 lead, highlighted by Jim Thome's 583rd career home run (441ft), tying McGwire for 9th all-time, and a bases-clearing triple by Tolbert, in for the rested Valencia. Tolbert would hit another triple later in the game, whilst Thome went on to hit a 400+ ft 3-run HR in the 4th inning to stretch the lead to 9-0 and whilst there were some brief signs of life from the Rangers after that, the Twins added on more to give Carl Pavano an easy win and, more importantly, to rest the bullpen.

Josh Hamilton seemed to hurt his arm again whilst fielding and although he continued after a medical visit to centre field, was substituted shortly after his next at-bat - I'm afraid he looked like he was in some pain. This must be a real concern for the Rangers - they really can't afford to lose him for the stretch run.

I really enjoy watching Vladimir Guerrero bat, with his style of trying to hit pretty much anything that is physically reachable, whether it bounces out front or is above his head. He'll never die wondering, that's for sure.

I've really enjoyed all three games that I've seen here in Minneapolis. The stadium really is beautiful, and looks so different to the other new ballparks I have seen, including Yankee Stadium. All of the staff have been so friendly and willing to chat and help. I hope they can sort out the isues with overseas credit cards, because I'd really like to return here quite soon and see the Twins again. If I was going to pick an AL team to support, I think I'd probably go for the Minnesota Twins.

View from section L of the Legends Club (Thursday)