Butera, Twins miss opportunities again in 11-inning loss to Indians

They almost pulled one out on Saturday.

But Butera became the latest Twin to fail with the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, and the Indians capitalized on their bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom half to rally for a 5-4 win -- long after Manship completed his six solid innings at Jacobs Field.

Playing in place of Joe Mauer (left heel), Butera kept the game alive in the 10th inning by catching center fielder Denard Span's perfect one-hop throw and absorbing a full-speed body blow from Cleveland's Lou Marson at home plate.

It didn't matter, though, after Butera grounded into a double play to end the top of the 11th, setting the stage for Asdrubal Cabrera's bases-loaded single off Jesse Crain to win it in the bottom half.

The Twins entered the game hitting .156 (5-for-32) with the bases full. They also had converted in only 25 of 59 situations (42 percent) with a runner on third base and less than two outs -- further evidence they're simply wasting too many good opportunities to generate runs.

Butera now is 1-for-13 in limited action.

Manship -- called up from Class-AAA Rochester on Friday to replace Nick Blackburn (family emergency) and possibly headed right back there -- allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Now the rubber match in the series is in the hands of red-hot Francisco Liriano (3-0, 0.93 ERA), who will face fellow left-hander David Huff (1-3, 4.10) at 12:05 p.m. Sunday.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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