One Twins righthander struggled with his command Thursday. The other one was Jose Berrios.
A suddenly shaky Ervin Santana faltered in the afternoon affair as the Twins lost 5-1 to Colorado. But young Berrios shined in the night game, pitching like an ace in a 2-0 victory over the Rockies that ended a three-game losing streak and enabled the Twins to avoid being swept in the interleague series.
Berrios built off his season debut Saturday in Cleveland — when he held the Indians to one run over 7 ⅔ innings — with more excellence Thursday.
The reactions of Rockies hitters said it all. Colorado hitters flailed at Berrios' fastball as if it were 100 miles per hour and swung over the top of his breaking ball. When Ian Desmond struck out on a breaking ball in the seventh, he shook his head as he retreated to the dugout.
"It looked a lot like [former Marlins ace] Jose Fernandez, to be honest with you," Desmond said. "Explosive, quick heater and that sweeping curveball that he can turn into a slider, too. He looked good.
"Sometimes you have to tip your cap, and I have no shame in doing that. He pitched really well."
In 7 ⅔ shutout innings, Berrios gave up two hits and one walk with a career-high 11 strikeouts — also a Twins season high. Fans began to cheer with anticipation when Berrios reached two strikes on hitters, and the roars increased as the game continued.
When Berrios issued a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Tony Wolters in the eighth, the cheers turned to boos as Twins manger Paul Molitor went to the mound and replaced Berrios with lefthander Taylor Rogers.