With strong start to season, Twins are fitting in with new ballpark

For many Twins fans, this season will bring about the first chance to see their beloved team play a home baseball game outdoors. The first month at the Minnesota Twins’ new ballpark, Target Field, is almost gone, and within the last month there have been some exciting moments that will go done in baseball history forever.  The Twins are enjoying one of their best starts to any season, and set a team record by winning their first six series.

With this strong of a start, the Twins are sitting with a small lead over the Tigers, and although it is still early in the season, with a potent lineup, a defense that is the best in the majors, and a strong pitching staff that has been consistent throughout, Target Field will be the place to be this summer and fall. But as a Twins fanatic and a trivia nut, here are some key plays to keep in mind as a part of Target Field history according to Wikipedia: The first Major League Baseball game played at Target Field was on Monday, April 12, 2010, and the first pitch was thrown at 3:10 p.m.

The first pitch was thrown by Carl Pavano and Marco Scutaro of the Red Sox was the first batter, as well as the first batter to get a hit at Target Field. Denard Span was the first Twins hitter to go up to bat. Hometown favorite Joe Mauer got the first double, and Denard Span scored the first run off of the first RBI which was hit my Michael Cuddyer. Justin Morneau hit the first triple, Jason Kubel hit the first home run, and David Ortiz was the first strikeout victim by Carl Pavano.

The first double play was turned by the Twins trio of Orlando Hudson, J.J. Hardy, and Morneau. For the pitching records, Carl Pavano got the first win, helped by the first save by Jon Rauch and Jon Lester took the loss as the Twins defeated the Red Sox 5-2 for the first win at Target Field.

While most of this information will be lost or forgotten as the season plays on, it will still be a part of Target Field, and more importantly of Twins history. Other unique feature of Target Filed include spruce trees in centerfield, and to replace the infamous “Dome Dog” the Twins will offer a greater plethora of food including walleye-on-a-spike and Tony O’s Cuban sandwiches. Target Field has also been named the greenest ballpark in America.

This next month of Twins baseball might even be more exciting than the first, as the Twins have fit in nicely at Target Field and have performed well no matter who or where they are playing.  Target Field will hopefully be the site of some ALDS playoffs revenge when the defending World Series Champion New York Yankees come to town and the end of May.

Here’s to the many memories that have already come at Target Field, and to the many more that are to come. The Twins haven’t been to the World Series since 1991 and I could not think of a more fitting way to end the first season of Target Field than a game 7 ending much like in ‘91. There’s no place like (Target Field) home.