MILWAUKEE — The bases were loaded for Jason Kubel in the 12th inning of a Metrodome game against the Boston Red Sox. The date was June 13, 2006, and the rival pitcher was Julian Taverez, a veteran righthanded reliever.
Kubel smashed a winning home run -- one of the early highlights in the Twins' long, remarkable run to the American League Central title.
On Saturday night, Kubel was batting with two on and no outs in the 12th inning at Miller Park. The fifth pitcher of the night for the Brewers was Tavarez, picked up a couple of weeks ago after he was let go by the Red Sox.
Relief pitchers remember grand slams. And Tavarez walked Kubel on four pitches, preferring to load the bases rather than give him a fastball to hit.
Delmon Young followed with an infield chopper and Joe Mauer was forced out at the plate.
The Twins had left a potential winning run at third base with one out in the 11th, when Carlos Gomez struck out and Alexi Casilla bounced out against Tavarez.
It would have been a nasty blow to fail again in this situation. The hitter was Brian Buscher, a lefty-hitting third baseman. He was recalled Friday and now was in the lineup in place of slump-ridden Mike Lamb, another lefty-hitting third baseman.
"He threw me changeup, changeup, I think, when I faced him the inning before," Buscher said. "I didn't want to get in the situation of swinging at his changeup. He threw me a first-pitch sinker and I was able to put a swing on it."