The Minnesota Twins rallied from an eight run deficit to tie the game against Kansas City, only to lose the game in the bottom of the ninth inning 9-8.

The big news is not the comeback, but that the Twins were down by eight with their best pitcher Kyle Lohse starting the game.

All teams go through slumps, both pitching and hitting. Minnesota can afford this lull because both the Royals and White Sox are very flawed teams and are not likely to outplay the Minnesotans over the course of 162 games.

However, one must wonder how strong this Twins team will be in August if their bullpen is used every night for three to four innings. Tony Fiore used over 50 pitches in two innings last night as an example of what has happened to the relievers.

The Royals lose virtually everytime they see a lefty starter. Tonight, lefty Kenny Rogers will test that theory against Jeremy Affeldt, who has blister issues once again further clouding his season.

The Red Sox brought Ryan Rupe in the game in the sixth after Pedro Martinez ran out of gas in the fifth, leaving with a 2-1 lead over the White Sox.

Rupe got two outs, then the trouble started. He left a fastball up and over the plate to Joe Crede with two on, and the rest is history as they say.

Tonight the pitcher the Red Sox really want on their team, Bartolo Colon, goes against John Burkett.

With Colon being a free agent next season it is likely Chicago will trade him before the year is out. Boston is a very logical destination.

The only complicating factor is Minnesota’s poor play. Is that enough to keep the Sox in the race and force them to hold on to Colon for the season?

All of New England hopes not.

I think he moves on no matter what the Sox are doing on July 31st.

Click below for more baseball.The Al West teams play at a different level when they face each other. The games are usually close turning on one pitch or at bat.

Last night John Lackey was cruising along against Seattle when he gave up a game tying two run homer to John Olerud, who only had hit two all year.

You could just feel the momentum leave the Angels. Anaheim still isn’t hitting the way they did last year. Joel Pineiro gave up three in the first to Anaheim then shut them down the rest of the way, retiring for the night in the top of the eighth with two out.

Anaheim now needs a big game from Kevin Appier tonight. Ryan Franklin is getting better every time out and the Seattle defense helps him big time. Franklin isn’t a strike out pitcher and needs his teammates to catch the ball. They do very well, in fact Mike Cameron made one of his routine amazing grabs in the alley last night, preventing a sure triple.

The A’s are set to sweep the Rangers. Barry Zito, tomorrow’s pitcher never loses to Texas, Mark Mulder has a favorable match up Thursday against a pitcher the A’s used to have, Mario Ramos.

The big question tonight is will Ted Lilly keep the ball in the park. Texas finds ways to lose to lefthanders, that is in Lilly’s and the A’s favor all week, but the biggest positive is the Ranger pitching.

Victor Santos, righty, who hasn’t pitched well in either of his two starts this season throws against Lilly. Santos will walk the park if given the chance and you know the A’s will give him the chance. Wednesday night it is career minor league lefty Tony Mounce who has some idea of the strike zone against Mulder.

Even though the division is a tough place to sweep anyone, this one is setting up pretty for Oakland. Anything less than two of three for the A’s will need to be investigated.

The Giants score runs, Kevin Brown doesn’t give up many, but the Giants have found a way to beat Brown regularly over the last couple of years. Earlier in Brown’s career he owned the Giants, now it is a different story. The Giants will score some runs tonight, the only question is what will Jesse Foppert give up to LA.

The Dodgers don’t score alot, but they will bunt, hit and run, and play little ball if you give them the chance. If Foppert puts many on base, then the Giants will be in trouble because that gives LA a chance to bang a homer or squeeze some cheap runs.

It is good experience for Foppert to pitch this game because these teams will play each other seven times during the last ten games of the season, and Foppert will be asked to win in September which will be tougher than winning now in June.

LA needs Brown to dominate the game tonight, I don’t think he will. The Giants will find a way to spoil his night.

Dontrelle Willis is fabulous. His one hitter against the Mets Monday was as dominating as any no hitter might have been. Once Josh Beckett is back, the rotation of Beckett, Willis, Mark Redman, and Brad Penny will put Miami back on the baseball map.

The Cardinals got a strong performance from Kiko Calero, but still lost to the Brewers as the bullpen fell apart in the seventh inning. Further trouble for St. Louis is the fact that both Matt Morris and Woody Williams will be given extra days rest this week because of arm tenderness.

Brett Tomko starts Thursday against Milwaukee which should be bombs away in Miller Park. The Brewers start Matt Kinney tonight, a pitcher who gives them a chance to win every time out.

Denny Neagle makes his 2003 debut tonight in Coors Field, a place he seems to do well. The Padres stole one from the Rockies last night and send young Jake Peavy to the mound against Neagle.

Roy Halladay puts his nine game winning streak on the line against Omar Daal in Baltimore. Let’s see if the new Oriole offense can keep up with the Blue Jays.

Wild Card

AL

Boston

Oakland 1/2

Toronto 1

KC 4

Anaheim 4

NL

LA

Montreal 1 1/2

Houston 3 1/2

Phillies 4 1/2

Cards 5

Here is some advice:

I wouldn’t focus on your favorite teams record right now.

I would look at how they are either losing or winning the games they play. Is the rotation solid? Is the defense set? How’s the bullpen, reliable or shaky? Is the offense clicking, are they hitting in the clutch, is it more than one or two players carrying the team?

These are the variables that will tell you how the next month will pay out, a month that is critical to the season because now you can fall into a double digit deficit if you aren’t careful.

I feel that .700 second half winning percentages don’t grow on trees, now is the time to stay close to the pack.

Records aren’t that crucial, it is how you play the game that I’m looking at.

The Twins are a prime example of a team not playing well now.

They bear watching.