June 13, 2002 [LINK]

Twins get a one-year reprieve

Major League Baseball recently made a deal that will assure that the Minnesota Twins will survive at least for one more year, while arrangements for financing a new stadium are being worked out.

In his first time at bat in the major leagues last Monday night, and in fact on the very first pitch thrown to him by Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Randy Johnson, Marcus Thames (pronounced "Tims") hit a home run. Only twelve players had ever hit a home run on their first-ever pitch in the major leagues before! The Diamondbacks pulled ahead 4 to 3, until Shane Spencer hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth, getting some revenge for last year's World Series defeat.

Meanwhile, in the Metrodome in Minneapolis, the first-place (AL Central) Twins finally prevailed in a grueling marathon, beating the first-place Braves (NL East) 6 to 5 in the 15th inning! Interleague play certainly can be exciting!