A.J. Achter and his first big-league win were the story tonight, but there were others. Here are a few leftovers:

FIRST-PITCH COOKIE: It took the Twins only two pitches to take a lead against Rick Porcello on Friday. Danny Santana whacked the first pitch of the game to the fence in left-center for a double, and he scored when Brian Dozier lined Porcello's next pitch into left field. The double was a bit of a breakthrough for the Twins' leadoff hitter, manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've been talking to him about being a leadoff hitter, taking pitches and everything. But we also talked to him about, if they throw a cookie [on the] first pitch, hit it," Gardenhire said. "And today, he had a big smile on his face, because that's the first time he's done that in a long time -- swung at first pitch and actually whacked it." He has a point: Santana has only put the first pitch in play 33 times all season, but he is 17-for-33 (.515) when he does so.

NO GET-ME-OVERS: Anthony Swarzak sounded like a man who has a new approach -- never give in -- after his four-plus-inning start on Friday. "I gave it everything I had out there. I didn't take one pitch off. there wasn't one get-me-over [pitch] tonight," he said. "I went at them with my best stuff, and they strung some hits together in a row at the end." He didn't allow a hit through the first three innings, but ended up surrendering three runs. "I felt great. The first three innings speak for themselves, and even the fourth and fifth inning, I felt great. To be honest, I just couldn't execute with two strikes."

GARDY DEFENDS BUNT: With the Twins leading 4-0 in the fourth inning, Chris Herrmann led off with a double and Aaron Hicks drew a walk. Gardenhire then ordered Eduardo Escobar to sacrifice, and his bunt moved the runners up to second and third. Danny Santana struck out, but when Brian Dozier's slow roller to third resulted in a bad throw by third baseman Nick Castellanos (though first baseman Miguel Cabrera probably should have caught the bounce), both runners scored. Gardenhire has heard from critics, on his radio show and elsewhere, who don't like sacrifice bunts, so he was ready to defend the bunt after the game. "I know people hate it when we bunt. Everybody says the stats and numbers tell you not to do it," he said with tongue in cheek. "But you know what, when you put pressure on the defense, they've got to make a perfect play. It didn't happen, we scored runs, so ha-ha!"