0:32FORT MYERS, FLA. – The last time Tyler Duffey threw a changeup in a major league game, the ball was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border for traveling without a visa.
Duffey, during his major league debut on Aug. 5., tried to fool Jose Bautista with a changeup and watched it get hammered for a very long home run. Duffey junked the pitch after that. New year, new outlook. Duffey threw four changeups Thursday during the Twins' 6-5 loss to Boston and plans on using it more in 2016.
"We just wanted to get through the first inning," Duffey said of his work with catcher Kurt Suzuki on Thursday. "Threw some fastballs, just getting them over the plate and throwing strikes. The second inning, we mixed in some changeups."
Duffey relied last season on a straight fastball, a sinking fastball and a curveball he can throw at three different speeds. He used a sinker to paint the outside corner to get Bryce Brentz to strike out looking in the first.
Those pitches helped Duffey go 5-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 10 starts with the Twins last season, but pitching coach Neil Allen likes changeups and wants Duffey to try it again. Ervin Santana, who uses the same grip on his changeup as Duffey does, has offered advice.
"Hopefully we can add that and it can be a reliable pitch for me," Duffey said.
Duffey gave up a hit and a walk over 1 ⅓ innings. He was removed after 36 pitches because of a pitch-count limit.
Danny Santana hit a two-run homer in the sixth to tie the score at 3-3. The Twins added two runs in the seventh, including one on a sacrifice fly by Santana, to take a 5-3 lead. But Taylor Rogers gave up three runs in the eighth as Boston rallied for the win.
