Bottom of the 9th

It's been a blast blogging this spring. Now it's one more walk to the car...one more trip down the elevator...one more walking past persistent autograph seekers...three more outs of spring baseball left.

Two outs left. Bomback just grounded out to short.

Or is there? Garcia singles, while the word "Rally" flashes on the scoreboard.

One out left. Josue Paley popped out.

And the spring falls on the shoulders of Marcus Davis - whose routine pop up goes for an error. There is still life at McKechnie! And Tom Hagan fuels it, grounding a two-run single to center.

Nothing like a little drama, huh? Guess Watt? Kris Watts singles, and we have ourselves a real, true-blue rally...and it's time for Webster, whose two doubles have won over a crowd that gives him a rousing ovation.

Webster is ahead 3-1...and he walks...setting the stage for PRASCH!

PRASCH. Prasch has GOT to be the hero! No one named Prasch lets the crowd down, right? This one days - he flies out, and Pirates lose 5-4.

Hope you enjoyed hanging with us this spring. For the last time from McKechnie Field, this is John Lembo, signing off.

Top of the 9th

The Twins go down without much action.

Here we go - three more outs left in spring, Bradenton.

5-2 Twins.

Bottom of the 8th

The players may be no-names - as in, there are no names on their jerseys - but most of the more than 5,400 fans are still here, soaking up the final moments of spring baseball.

It's a tad toasty out, so the bleachers have cleared a bit. But most folks crammed into the cool shade are still here.

Webster doubles for the second time today, and that brings up Prasch. I just like typing Prasch. Prasch. Sounds as if he should be headlining the next WWE pay-per-view event.

Prasch walks, but Andrew Biela flies out. 5-2 Twins.

Top of the 8th

Evan Meek, who pitched well enough to make the 25-man roster, is on for the Pirates.

I like Meek because his favorite movie is "The Boondock Saints," a cult film about Irish brothers who turn vigilante in order to clean the crime out of their Boston neighborhood. It's killer. Pick it up if you can.

Until I interviewed Meek earlier this spring, I thought I was of nine people who saw "The Boondock Saints."

I guess there are 10 of us.

5-2 Twins.

Bottom of the 7th

I guess not all the stars are done for the spring - closer Joe Nathan, one of baseball's best, has come in to pitch for the Twins.

As expected, the guy with 161 saves in four seasons cruises, striking out two.

The Twins still lead 5-2.

Top of the 7th

Matt Capps - wow, a name I recognize! - has come on to relieve Morris.

When I interviewed with The Bradenton Herald in the summer of 2003, I did a feature on Capps, then with the GCL, for my test story.

Last month, I interviewed again for a feature I wrote. The best part? He still sounded like the same down-to-earth guy, as if the major league success hadn't gone to his head. I hope he stays that way.

Wow - there are a LOT of Twins fans here. Jon Knott hits a roller down the third-base line that stays for and goes for an infield single, and the place erupts. Who knew?

Brock Peterson reaches when centerfield Edwin Garcia drops a fly ball, and the Twins take a 4-2 lead. Capps' day is done. On comes Kyle Pearson.

Juan Portas singles, and it's 5-2 Twins. Meanwhile, the beer vendor announces last call for the spring.

Punto pops out, and we head to the stretch with the Twins ahead.

Bottom of the 6th

Anthony Webster - wonder if he knows the dictionary guy? - leads off the bottom of the sixth. And he stirs the crowd by doubling in the gap.

These kids are all right!

Here is a baseball name for you: Eddie Prasch. That just belongs on the back of a bubblegum card. He gets the job down, grounding out to second and moving Webster to third.

But Webster is stranded at third.

Three, maybe four, more innings of spring left in The Friendly City, and the Twins and Pirates are tied at 2.