The 2006 Twins shuffle the deck and catch fire in June

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DAVID BREWSTER ‚Ä¢ [email protected] Tuesday_6/13/06_Mpls - - - (Twins vs. Boston Red Socks) - - - - - - Twins runner Justin Morneau's head pops out of a cluster of celebrateing Twins at home plate as Jason Kubel rounded the bases toward home plate also. (Photo by DAVID BREWSTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images) (Photo by DAVID BREWSTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images

When we last checked in on the 2006 Twins, they were being walked-off in Seattle on June 6 and falling 11.5 GB the division-leading Detroit Tigers.

The next day, GM Terry Ryan and manager Ron Gardenhire rattled some cages:

• Kyle Lohse was removed from the starting rotation (and my Metrodome-outing nightmares)
• Tony Batista was DFA’d in favor of regular playing time for Nick Punto at 3B

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• Juan Castro ceded shortstop to Jason Bartlett
• Michael Cuddyer became the everyday RF-er
• Jason Kubel largely took over the DH role

The shuffling worked immediately. From June 7-15 the Twins went on a 6-1 run, including one of the most epic contests ever played at the Metrodome. With opposing starters Johan Santana & Curt Schilling dealing, the Twins & Boston Red Sox went deep into extra innings. I could narrate it for you—but Dick Bremer already has…


After sweeping the Sox, the Twins embarked on their then-confined-to-June interleague play swing. They ran roughshod over the not-so-Senior Circuit, compiling a 16-2 mark against the NL.

A key cog in MN’s epic June ‘06? The emergence of SP Francisco Liriano, whom the Twins had acquired—alongside Joe Nathan & Boof Bonser—in the A.J. Pierzynski trade three years earlier. After being installed in the rotation mid-May and stretching out to starter length, Liriano dominated Baltimore (7 IP, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) on June 11. He further bamboozled Pirates plunderers (7 IP, 2 ER, 1 BB, 11 K) on June 16.

This set up one of the most exciting pitching matchups in Twins history. On June 22 in Houston, Frankie would oppose Texas’s own Roger “Dad of Kody” Clemens.

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The Rocket was okay (5 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K), but Liriano was sparkling (8 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) in a Twins victory!

For good measure, the Cisco Kid’s June 28 mound tilt against the Los Angeles Dodgers was just as scintillating (7 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K). Another ace seemed to be in development to pair with Johan Santana & Brad Radke atop the rotation.

When the dust had settled on June, Minnesota found themselves a far more respectable 43-35. The problem? Only a half-game in the standings was gained on the equally-as-scorching Detroit denizens. It still looked like a long climb to regain AL Central supremacy, with a Wild Card berth seemingly a more reasonable target halfway through this up-and-down campaign.

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