CHICAGO – Torii Hunter was told he might be pinch hit for occasionally, and he responded Friday with two hits and the tying RBI. He was told he might be substituted for in the outfield, and he responded by throwing two White Sox baserunners out from right field. He was told he might be pinch run for, and he responded by …
Well, two out of three isn't bad.
Hunter, finally emerging from a six-week slump, was thrown out trying to steal but otherwise had an encouraging resurgence Friday in support of another veteran experiencing a late-season bounce-back, righthander Ervin Santana. With Trevor Plouffe supplying a pair of go-ahead home runs, Santana pitching seven strong but not flawless innings and Hunter doing a little of everything, the Twins took the opener of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field, 6-2 over the White Sox.
"Torii had a good all-around game," manager Paul Molitor said. "Maybe two of the better throws he's made for the season."
Certainly two of the most enjoyable, the nine-time Gold Glove outfielder said.
"It's been a while since somebody tested [my arm], so it was a lot of fun that they were testing it today, and I was able to let loose and throw," Hunter said after his first two-assist game in a Twins uniform in 13 years and one day. "I don't remember the last time I had [baserunning] attempts to even do that. That was a lot of fun."
Not so fun for Mike Olt, who was nabbed while trying to stretch a single into a double in the third inning. And especially not for Avisail Garcia, who seemed certain to score from second on Rob Brantley's fourth-inning single.
"Brantley hit the ball hard, so it was hit more down the line. I had to get it at an angle and shift my body back to square to the plate," Hunter said. "He was just touching third when I grabbed the ball, it was hit so hard."