This is all it took to prove we are not a Twins jinx:

*The requisite two $1 hot dogs immediately upon entering the Metrodome on a Wednesday, followed by the nitrate chaser of shame — one more dog — in the fourth inning.

*Glen Perkins rolling through the first 10 batters in 25 pitches before suddenly turning what looked to be a comfortable victory into a “man, this game could be tied any second now” kind of affair.

*A home run by Miguel Cabrera that was so prodigious that it prompted this exchange between us and M.C. Creme Fraiche the next time he batted:

Us: I don’t think it’s fair that Cabrera gets to bat again considering the ball he hit his last time up still hasn’t landed.

MC: That ball reached the border and was sent back because it lacked proper papers.

*M.C. Creme Fraiche declaring in the eighth inning, “If Jason Kubel hits a home run, I will buy a Jason Kubel jersey.” Granted, he says that basically every time Kubel is up now after last year’s incident, but we think he might have to be held to the standard after Kubel’s first-pitch blast last night.

*The two of us being snubbed for literally six innings while the “Fan Photographer” guy took pictures of pretty much everyone else in the section. Here’s the thing: we didn’t want our pictures taken; we just wanted to be asked. One time, he literally walked right over the seat next to us to get to someone else.

*After 10 innings in the upper deck, we moved down basically to 10 rows behind home plate for the 11th inning on. We’re guessing about 75 percent of that section by that point was filled with folks who paid much less for their ticket. We saw an outstanding man wearing a scissors-made sleeveless Texas Hold ‘em T-shirt. Crazy hair. Wild beard. Tattoos of the Oakland Raiders, barbed wire and some Chinese symbols. Could have been the construction working brother of Joe Nathan if such a man exists.

*The bullpen. Let’s not even start. Mijares was great. R.A. Dickey got some big outs. But everyone else … and yes, that was most definitely a balk by Jesse Crain. We might have said some bad things about the Twins decision-makers during the night, and if we offended anyone in the immediate vicinity of our seats, we apologize.

*A great all-around game by Brendan Harris. He stole a run by going first-to-third on a close play, he was slick in the field, he had three hits and two runs scored overall. That guy needs to play at least 4 or 5 times a week at the various infield positions.

*Jim Leyland absolutely lost it. That was an epic meltdown after Magglio Ordonez struck out. And, of course, we couldn’t stop quoting Bull Durham afterwards. Said MC: “Must’ve called him a [redacted].” Us: “Pretty please! Pretty please can I call you a [redacted].”

*We were pretty sure acting manager Lloyd McClendon (at least we’re told he was the acting manager) was going to kill a man with a trident after Matt Tolbert’s soft liner to left in the 13th was ruled a trap (therefore allowing the tying run to score instead of ending the game with a double play). But nary a peep. Must’ve been the right call. Never saw a replay.

*4 hours, 48 minutes, 24 runs, 13 innings and one outstanding Joe Crede grand slam later — seriously, one of the greatest games we’ve ever been to — we can officially say we are not a Twins jinx. (Photo, by the way, taken by Sassbottom somewhere in Seattle).

*Fasola-link! Is NASCAR simply 21st Century jousting?

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