ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Rochester Red Wings had just lost in a walk-off to Scranton-Wilkes Barre, and manager Gene Glynn called a team meeting.
"Usually after a loss, a meeting means it's something bad," Michael Tonkin said Thursday morning. "But this one wasn't."
Nope. Glynn briefly discussed a few things that had gone wrong in the 8-7 loss, then got to the reason he called the meeting: To announce that Tonkin was headed to the big leagues. "It was pretty exciting," Tonkin said.
No doubt. The circumstances aren't perfect -- Caleb Thielbar is on bereavement leave, opening a roster spot for three days -- but Tonkin, who spent part of three seasons in Beloit and then jetted up the system in less than 13 months, isn't complaining. "It's a great opportunity for me," he said, especially since the Twins essentially told him that they might consider keeping him around if he shows he's ready.
He'll be pressed into service right away, after the Twins used six relievers last night in their 13-inning loss, their fourth straight and 10th in their last 11 games. The Twins want Mike Pelfrey to go six or seven innings, but no matter what happens, Tonkin, whose parents rushed to St. Petersburg from Palmdale, Calif., is almost certain to be the first reliever up today.
Here are today's lineups, with Justin Morneau and Ryan Doumit on the bench after last night's nearly-five-hour marathon:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Carroll 3B
Mauer C
Plouffe DH
Parmelee 1B
Arcia LF
Hicks CF
Thomas RF
Florimon SS
