Adalberto Mejia's last outing was a rough one. The lefthander faced 10 Blue Jays on Monday, and four of them scored. Worse, it turned a 3-1 Twins lead into a 5-3 loss.
So perhaps it was a surprise when Rocco Baldelli chose Mejia to enter a 4-1 game just two nights later, with a runner on base. And that, after Mejia retired Rowdy Tellez to end the inning Wednesday, he stuck with Mejia for another one.
It worked out. Mejia allowed a single, but the runner was quickly erased on a line-drive double play, and the Twins' bullpen went on to keep the game's score right where it was.
"Everyone that we called on to come in did nice work," Baldelli said of Mejia, Taylor Rogers and Blake Parker, none of whom allowed the tying run to come to the plate. "Mejia in particular had a nice outing. Came in and got some big outs for us, and that's exactly what we need."
Exactly what Mejia needed, too, the manager figured.
"It's good for any pitcher, but any young pitcher in particular, it's nice to get right back out there," Baldelli said. "It's a good idea to get him out there, get him throwing. And he did the job. He went out there and threw strikes."
