Mr. Silva's first start

Carlos Silva vs. his former team, in his first start since ending the 2008 season an angry, confused pitcher.

Spring training saw him struggle despite losing 30 pounds, although late in camp adjustments he made with pitching coach Rick Adair and bullpen coach John Wetteland excited him - and got fine results.

Can he pitch with passion and not get overly excited? Can he pitch without the kind of pounding he endured last year?

Silva got a ground ball out, saw a ground ball up the middle become a base hit.
Michael Cuddyer popped out, and Justin Morneau - as dangerous a left-handed hitter as you'll find in he American League Central - hit one into the upper deck for a 2-0 lead.
Silva gave up another ground ball base hit, but he struck out Joe Crede looking.

After one: Twins 2, Mariners 0

Branyan Weighs In

Russell Branyan hadn't had much of a series two games in, batting .125 without an RBI.

The 3-2 fastball Kevin Slowey threw him in the second inning cured him - and he slammed it over the wall in straight away center for a two-run home run.

If the fence had been 10 feet higher, it still would have gone out.

Adrian Beltre scored on tghe home run, leading off the inning with a hustle double.

To the bottom of the second: Mariners 2, Twins 2

Two by two by two ...

No sooner did Branyan tie it up than the Twins came back using a two-out, two-run home run from leadoff hiter Denard Span.

That's three two-run home runs in two innings.

Silva is using a lot of pitches early. To get the first six outs of the game, he threw 40.

After two: Twins 4, Mariners 2

Welcome to the Metrodome - now duck

Baseballs are flying tonight, and second baseman Jose Lopez hit the latest, a solo shot in the fourth that pulled the Mariners within a run.

The kid who caught the ball beyond the left field fence was booed when he wouldn't throw it back on the field, but he just turned red and held on to his prize. Clearly, a future world leader.

With two outs, Wakamatsu unleashed little ball: Ronney Cedeno singled and with Yuniesky Betancourt batting, Cedeno took off - and Yuni doubled him home for the tie.

Endy Chavez singled off Slowey, sending Betancourt to third, and the Twins bullpen is getting loose.

They should be: Chavez stole second base, so unnerving Slowey he wild-pitched Betancourt home with his 72nd pitch.

Wak ball!

To the bottom of the fourth: Mariners 5, Twins 4

Mistakes Kill

Silva deserved better in the fifth, when the Twins rallied to retake the lead.

After he'd walked Span, Silva got a ground ball to first baseman Branyan, but instead of throwing to second to get the lead runner - and perhaps a double play - Branyan stepped on the bag and threw late to second.

It's the second time he's done that in three games. Yes, he's been talked to about it.

What followed was a rally that included Morneau's ground ball just beyond the range of Lopez at second, and a ground ball double that got by Branyan at first base.

After five: Twins 6, Mariners 5

A new Mariner

Silva gone after five innings and 98 pitches, and in relief is Chris Jakubauskas, the 29-year-old rookie right-hander.

The independent league refugee pitched like it was still spring training.

He struck out the first man he faced - now there's a memory he'll keep - got two quick fly balls and sat down. He'll be back.

It's Nathan Time

Jakubauskas and Mark Lowe put up zeroes over the last three innings, but the Mariners didn't score either - and now they're facing Joe Nathan, a veteran closer.

Odds are, it's another one-run loss for Seattle.

Cedeno struck out.

Betancourt flied out.

Chavez grounded out.

Game over. Twins 6, Mariners 5