Afternoon Box Score: Twins Trip Up Cubs

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 12, 2009 9:30PM

It was a gorgeous day for baseball at Wrigley, but a few ugly plays cost the Cubs a shot at a comeback as the Twins tripped up the Cubs 7-4 in the opening game of their interleague series. Starter Randy Wells had a rough outing, giving up four runs on seven hits in only 3.2 innings pitched. Joe Mauer put the Twins on the board with a two-run homer in the third and the Twins knocked in two more in the fourth. Milton Bradley got the Cubs back in the game with a bases loaded double in the sixth that scored two runs. A fielder's choice on the next batter - Derek Lee - led to another run for the Cubs. But in the top of the seventh, Bradley lost a fly ball in the sun and then misplayed another on a diving catch which led to another run for the Twins. Bradley committed another miscue in the eight when he caught a one-out fly ball in right field and, thinking it was out three, postured in the outfield, and tossed the ball into the right field stands. A run scored on the sacrifice and a runner on first made it all the way to third. Each team tacked on another run, but in the end, the Cubs couldn't take advantage of their opportunities while giving the Twins plenty of their own scoring chances. The series continues at Wrigley tomorrow afternoon at 12:05 p.m.