Here are three thoughts following the Twins win over Tigers
BIG FIRST INNING: Jeff Cox was the manager at Class AAA Omaha the years I covered the Royals. I'd drive up to do features on prospects like Bob Hamelin, and remember Coxie yelling at his team to hit the ball to the opposite field sometimes. ``There's money out there!" he would say. I thought about that on Monday when the Twins scored four runs in the first inning for the second straight night. Aaron Hicks led off the inning by stroking a two-strike single to the opposite field. But the big blow was when Trevor Plouffe didn't try to pull an outside pitch - which he has done - and smacked a two-run double to right. Yes, it was a ball that could have been caught by J.D. Martinez, but he failed to do so. But the point here is that good things happen when you go with the pitch sometimes, and Plouffe's double set the tone that allowed the Twins to knock Kyle Lobstein out of the game in the second inning. ``You're just hoping he resists the temptation of trying to roll over something," Twins manager Paul Molitor said,
REST FOR KEY ARMS: Two comfortable wins in two days allowed the Twins to rest their key setup men and closer Kevin Jepsen. If closer Glen Perkins can join the bullpen this weekend, it will be in good shape for the stretch run. ``Hopefully it will prove to be helpful going forward, giving me a chance to back off Trevor and Kevin a little bit," Molitor said.
DUFF-DADDY: Tyler Duffey continues to impress, pitching into the seventh inning after getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the first. His only two walks of the game came in that first inning. ``He walks the first couple of guys and you start to think if that rest was a good idea or a bad idea," Molitor said, ``but he made it work." Will Duffey get another start? We should know after tomorrow's game - after the Twins see how Phil Hughes does - if Duffey gets another start. ``I'll do whatever they want," Duffey said. We saw with Jose Berrios how protective the Twins are of their young arms. Despite his success, the Twins might restrict Duffey down the stretch.
