CLEVELAND -- Some perspective from the Twins clubhouse after Tuesday's 6-5, 12-inning victory over the Indians:
THE MASTROIANNI SHOW
Standing on second base in the 12th inning, Darin Mastroianni knew he might be able to score on Alexi Casilla's bouncer, but he relied on third base coach Steve Liddle for the cue.
"Steve just told me to keep going," Mastroianni said. "I kind of got halfway to home and looked up. I saw the umpire call Lexi safe, so at that point I knew I was going to score; I just wanted to make sure I got there."
Mastroianni really stole a run there for the Twins. He hit a two-out single, stole second and then scored on Casilla's infield single. Mastroianni was kicking himself for a play four innings earlier. After entering as a pinch runner in the eighth, he was on second base when Trevor Plouffe hit a sharp comebacker to Vinnie Pestano.
Mastroianni said he told himself to freeze on a ball back to the pitcher, but he was leaning toward third, allowing Pestano to get him on his way back to second.
"I know the old rule is make it go by the pitcher, but that pitcher made a heck of a play," Manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That ball was a rocket, and I don't know how he caught it. I don't care -- good baserunner, bad baserunner -- that was a really tough baserunning play.
"As far as aggressive baserunning, that's what he is, that's what he brings to this team. You know what? He's going to make some outs out there, but he's going to also make some big plays like he did tonight, and we'll take the big plays over those outs."
