Here are three quick thoughts on the Twins after their 4-3, 13-inning victory on Wednesday
GRIND IT OUT: Some people in the baseball believe winning games like Wednesday's can do a lot for a team. And to be able to overcome a 11 scoreless innings to win at PNC Park should make for a fun plane ride to Chicago. ``It's huge," Twins first baseman Joe Mauer said. ``It was a grind. We went into extra innings and kept at it. To get the win is huge." The Twins are 3-1 in extra inning games while Pittsburgh is 0-6. Surely. the Pirates are wondering what's wrong with them in those situations while the Twins have something else to build on.
PELF AT THE PLATE: Being on the road in interleague play meant that Mike Pelfrey could let his good fortunes carry over to the plate. In his first at-bat in the second inning, Pelfrey squibbed one toward third that Jung Ho Kang rushed in for but couldn't make a play on. Infield hit, first hit for Pelfrey since 2012. With Aaron Hicks on second base with one out in the fourth, it seemed to be the time for Mike Pelfrey to bunt Hicks to third and get back to the dugout. The Twins had other ideas, Pelfrey was allowed to swing away and shot a single to left. Pelfrey was 2-for-2 but was pinch hit for before he could get a third at-bat. Pelfrey told Paul Molitor,``You know I'm 2-for-2 right," when he found out he was being removed.
MAUER POWER: I told mlb.com's Rhett Bollinger that Mauer was going to homer sometime during this road trip. It's just been too long and the ball carries well in Pittsburgh and Chicago. Didn't think it would come at such a big moment. Mauer was looking to hit the ball the other way, but was able to react when he got a fat slider. That's a good sign. The fact he was able to react and pull the ball is a good sign too. The way he talked after the game, it sounded as if the drought was bothering him too. ``They can come in bunches," he said. ``Hopefully that's the case."
