2009 Minnesota Twins season

The 2009 Minnesota Twins season was the 49th season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 109th overall in the American League. It was their final season at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome with their new stadium, Target Field, opening in 2010. They ended the regular season as American League Central champions after defeating the Detroit Tigers in a one game tie-breaker. They were then swept in the ALDS by the New York Yankees. The team's star catcher and Minnesota native Joe Mauer won the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

Regular season

On April 17, Jason Kubel hit for the cycle, becoming the ninth Twin to accomplish the feat. Kubel joins just six other American League cycle-hitters that filled the 'HR' slot with a grand slam home run.

On May 22, Michael Cuddyer hit for the cycle, becoming the tenth Twin to accomplish the feat. When he homered twice in the seventh inning on August 23, Cuddy became the only man ever in baseball to accomplish both feats in the same season. Prior to Kubel last month, the eight previous Twins' cycle hitters were Rod Carew, 1970; César Tovar, 1972; Larry Hisle, 1976; Lyman Bostock, 1976; Mike Cubbage, 1978; Gary Ward, 1980; Kirby Puckett, 1986 and Carlos Gómez, 2008.

After 319 consecutive games, Justin Morneau sat out June 21. He hadn't missed a game since June 27, 2007, until manager Ron Gardenhire held him out that day. His consecutive-games streak remains the longest for the Twins club.

At the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium, Joe Mauer was the American League's starting catcher, and doubled in three at-bats. Justin Morneau and Joe Nathan entered as reserves. Nathan pitched an inning, walked one, struck out one and gave up one hit, earning a hold.

Joe Mauer won his third American League batting title, with a .365 average. In the forty-nine seasons the Minnesota Twins have existed, a Twin has won the AL batting title fourteen times -- Rod Carew (7), Tony Oliva (3), Joe Mauer (3) and Kirby Puckett (1).

Closer Joe Nathan saved 47 games to top Eddie Guardado's previous club record of 45. He was a co-winner of the Rolaids Relief Man Award (with Mariano Rivera), only the second Twin (after Bill Campbell, in 1976) to do so. Nathan now leads in Twins career saves with 260.

For the first time ever, four Twins topped 90 RBI: Jason Kubel (103), Justin Morneau (100), Joe Mauer (96) and Michael Cuddyer (94).

Along with winning the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, Joe Mauer was named American League MVP, the fifth Twin in history to be so honored. Mauer is the first AL catcher to lead the league in batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Roster 2009 Minnesota Twins Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches (pitching) (bench) (bullpen) (third base) (hitting) (first base)

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 6 || Mariners || 6–1 || Hernández (1–0) || Liriano (0–1) || || 48,514 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 7 || Mariners || 6–5 || Ayala (1–0) || Morrow (0–1) || || 23,755 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 8 || Mariners || 6–5 || Slowey (1–0) || Silva (0–1) || Nathan (1) || 22,270 || 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 9 || Mariners || 2–0 || Washburn (1–0) || Perkins (0–1) || Morrow (1) || 20,105 || 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 10 || @ White Sox || 12–5 || Dickey (1–0) || Contreras (0–1) || || 25,422 || 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 11 || @ White Sox || 8–0 || Colón (1–0) || Liriano (0–2) || || 33,935 || 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 12 || @ White Sox || 6–1 || Buehrle (1–0) || Blackburn (0–1) || Jenks (2) || 25,571 || 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 13 || Blue Jays || 8–6 || Frasor (1–0) || Ayala (1–1) || Ryan (1) || 16,410 || 3–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 14 || Blue Jays || 3–2 (11) || Crain (1–0) || Carlson (0–1) || || 15,375 || 4–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 15 || Blue Jays || 12–2 || Richmond (1–0) || Baker (0–1) || || 19,471 || 4–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || Blue Jays || 9–2 || Halladay (3–0) || Liriano (0–3) || || 15,169 || 4–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 17 || Angels || 11–9 || Guerrier (1–0) || Bulger (0–1) || Nathan (2) || 24,168 || 5–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 18 || Angels || 9–2 || Slowey (2–0) || Jepsen (0–2) || || 34,286 || 6–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 19 || Angels || 3–1 || Perkins (1–1) || Loux (0–1) || Nathan (3) || 28,302 || 7–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | || April 21 || @ Red Sox || colspan=6 |Postponed (rain); rescheduled for April 22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 22 || @ Red Sox || 10–1 (7) || Wakefield (2–1) || Baker (0–2) || || 37,608 || 7–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 22 || @ Red Sox || 7–3 || Penny (2–0) || Liriano (0–4) || || 37,494 || 7–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 24 || @ Indians || 5–1 || Blackburn (1–1) || Carmona (1–3) || || 20,215 || 8–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 25 || @ Indians || 7–1 || Slowey (3–0) || Pavano (0–3) || || 23,186 || 9–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 26 || @ Indians || 4–2 || Laffey (2–0) || Perkins (1–2) || Wood (4) || 20,153 || 9–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 27 || Rays || 7–1 || Niemann (2–2) || Baker (0–3) || || 17,988 || 9–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 21 || April 28 || Rays || 4–3 || Nathan (1–0) || Howell (0–2) || || 18,974 || 10–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 29 || Rays || 8–3 || Blackburn (2–1) || Kazmir (3–2) || || 21,715 || 11–11

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || May 1 || Royals || 7–5 || Slowey (4–0) || Ponson (0–4) || Nathan (4) || 24,727 || 12–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 2 || Royals || 10–7 (11) || Soria (1–0) || Breslow (0–1) || || 29,061 || 12–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 3 || Royals || 7–5 || Meche (2–2) || Baker (0–4) || Soria (6) || 31,845 || 12–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || May 4 || @ Tigers || 7–2 || Liriano (1–4) || Jackson (1–2) || || 21,298 || 13–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 5 || @ Tigers || 9–0 || Porcello (2–3) || Blackburn (2–2) || || 23,754 || 13–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 6 || @ Orioles || 4–1 (6) || Bass (1–1) || Slowey (4–1) || || 10,566 || 13–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 7 || @ Orioles || 5–4 || Johnson (2–0) || Mijares (0–1) || Sherrill (5) || 11,399 || 13–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 30 || May 8 || Mariners || 11–0 || Baker (1–4) || Jakubauskas (1–4) || || 29,714 || 14–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 31 || May 9 || Mariners || 9–6 || Liriano (2–4) || Hernández (4–2) || Nathan (5) || 29,552 || 15–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 10 || Mariners || 5–3 || Batista (2–0) || Crain (1–1) || Morrow (6) || 25,555 || 15–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 12 || Tigers || 6–2 || Slowey (5–1) || Galarraga (3–3) || || 24,807 || 16–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 13 || Tigers || 14–10 (13) || Crain (2–1) || Lyon (1–3) || || 22,178 || 17–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 35 || May 14 || Tigers || 6–5 || Breslow (1–1) || Seay (0–1) || Nathan (6) || 26,046 || 18–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 15 || @ Yankees || 5–4 || Veras (2–1) || Nathan (1–1) || || 43,856 || 18–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 16 || @ Yankees || 6–4 (11) || Aceves (1–0) || Breslow (1–2) || || 45,455 || 18–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 17 || @ Yankees || 3–2 (10) || Aceves (2–0) || Crain (2–2) || || 44,804 || 18–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 18 || @ Yankees || 7–6 || Pettitte (4–1) || Perkins (1–3) || Coke (1) || 43,244 || 18–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 19 || @ White Sox || 6–2 || Buehrle (6–1) || Baker (1–5) || || 26,696 || 18–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 20 || @ White Sox || 7–4 || Danks (3–3) || Liriano (2–5) || Jenks (9) || 29,044 || 18–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 21 || @ White Sox || 20–1 || Blackburn (3–2) || Colón (2–4) || || 23,048 || 19–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 22 || Brewers || 11–3 || Slowey (6–1) || Parra (3–5) || || 30,297 || 20–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 23 || Brewers || 6–2 || Swarzak (1–0) || Looper (4–3) || || 40,547 || 21–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 24 || Brewers || 6–3 || Baker (2–5) || Bush (3–1) || || 38,959 || 22–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 25 || Red Sox || 6–5 || Penny (5–1) || Liriano (2–6) || Papelbon (12) || 27,636 || 22–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 26 || Red Sox || 5–2 || Blackburn (4–2) || Lester (3–5) || Nathan (7) || 20,019 || 23–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 27 || Red Sox || 4–2 || Slowey (7–1) || Matsuzaka (0–3) || Nathan (8) || 28,221 || 24–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 28 || Red Sox || 3–1 || Beckett (5–2) || Swarzak (1–1) || Papelbon (13) || 23,958 || 24–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 29 || @ Rays || 5–3 || Shields (4–4) || Baker (2–6) || Choate (1) || 19,358 || 24–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 30 || @ Rays || 5–2 || Price (1–0) || Liriano (2–7) || Choate (2) || 36,052 || 24–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 52 || May 31 || @ Rays || 3–2 || Blackburn (5–2) || Garza (4–4) || Nathan (9) || 26,579 || 25–27

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 53 || June 2 || Indians || 4–3 || Slowey (8–1) || Huff (0–2) || Nathan (10) || 26,530 || 26–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 3 || Indians || 10–1 || Lee (3–6) || Swarzak (1–2) || || 29,336 || 26–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 55 || June 4 || Indians || 11–3 || Baker (3–6) || Carmona (2–6) || || 20,897 || 27–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 56 || June 5 || @ Mariners || 2–1 (10) || Guerrier (2–0) || Lowe (0–3) || Nathan (11) || 35,808 || 28–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 6 || @ Mariners || 2–1 || Jakubauskas (4–5) || Henn (0–1) || Aardsma (9) || 30,600 || 28–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 7 || @ Mariners || 4–2 || Bédard (5–2) || Slowey (8–2) || White (1) || 37,714 || 28–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 8 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Outman (4–0) || Ayala (1–2) || Bailey (5) || 10,181 || 28–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || June 9 || @ Athletics || 10–5 || Baker (4–6) || Anderson (3–6) || Nathan (12) || 10,127 || 29–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || June 10 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || Guerrier (3–0) || Bailey (4–1) || Nathan (13) || 18,074 || 30–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 11 || @ Athletics || 4–3 || Ziegler (1–1) || Henn (0–2) || || 13,383 || 30–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || June 12 || @ Cubs || 7–4 || Slowey (9–2) || Wells (0–3) || Nathan (14) || 41,509 || 31–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 64 || June 13 || @ Cubs || 2–0 || Swarzak (2–2) || Harden (4–3) || Nathan (15) || 40,899 || 32–32 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 14 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Mármol (2–1) || Crain (2–3) || || 40,814 || 32–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 66 || June 16 || Pirates || 8–2 || Perkins (2–3) || Maholm (4–3) || || 25,351 || 33–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 17 || Pirates || 8–2 || Snell (2–7) || Liriano (2–8) || || 30,057 || 33–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || June 18 || Pirates || 5–1 || Blackburn (6–2) || Duke (7–5) || || 30,670 || 34–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 69 || June 19 || Astros || 5–2 || Slowey (10–2) || Oswalt (3–4) || Nathan (16) || 32,218 || 35–34