Comeback Provides Sweep Of Tigers
For the second game in a row, the Twins pitching staff accomplished the improbable. Saturday night a rookie reliever came in for an injured starter and pitched four scoreless innings, earning his first Major League win. Sunday afternoon was even better.
After giving up six runs in a 45-pitch, 26-minute top of the first inning, Boof Bonser started the game over to give the Twins a chance. They took advantage, coming back for a 7-6 victory over the Tigers.
“He gained his composure and started locating his fastball and using his offspeed stuff,” acting manager Scott Ullger said of Bonser. “That’s all we could ask from him. We said, ‘Boof, you have to start over.’ After that first inning, he went out and started over and pitched a strong five after that.”
He didn’t actually start the game over — he still had that six-run deficit to account for — but when he came out firing in the second inning and retired the Tigers on five pitches, it gave the Twins a spark.
Bonser made no excuses for the first inning after the game. He said the Tigers just seemed to be able to hit everything he threw over the plate. But beginning in the second, he started locating his fastball and gaining control of his offspeed pitches.
“I think a game like that just proves you can’t count us out,” Bonser said. “I gave up that six runs, but we went out and scored seven. The game’s not over. It wasn’t a good thing it happened in the first inning, but at the same time, I’m glad it didn’t happen in the sixth inning. For us to have a perfect homestand is a great thing.”
The Tigers fans, with their Detroit Tigers merchandise on, had a pretty good time as they saw a good game down the stretch.