MINNEAPOLIS — The bullpen door swung open, and Glen Perkins ran out on his way to the mound he’s made his ninth-inning home at Target Field.
Minnesota’s closer worked a routine three-up, three-down appearance, for the most memorable save of his life. He finished the American League’s 5-3 victory over the National League on Tuesday night, with Twins fans cheering him the whole time.
Not a bad way to finish an All-Star game in the place he grew up.
“Hearing how loud the fans were, it makes me want to get to the playoffs because I think it felt like a playoff atmosphere out there tonight,” Perkins said, adding: “Loss of words. I am not usually at a loss of words, but I am now.”
Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki came in to catch his teammate. Perkins, who grew up in Stillwater, a suburb east of Minneapolis, pitched for the University of Minnesota before being drafted by the Twins in the first round in 2004.
HOMECOMING, PART TWO
St. Louis reliever Pat Neshek, who started his career with the Twins and also grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, Brooklyn Park, had a big grin on his face as he tipped his cap to the crowd during pre-game introductions. He was even announced as a former member of the Park Center Pirates, a nod to his high school less than 10 miles north of the downtown ballpark.
Neshek took the loss, giving up two fifth-inning runs. But he wasn’t going to let that ruin his experience.
“It’s baseball. The balls don’t bounce your way. It’s a tough one, but I think everybody had a lot of fun,” Neshek said.
Not that Neshek was blaming the field for any bad bounces ”“ his brother works on the ballpark’s grounds crew.
DARVISH DEBUT
Texas ace Yu Darvish finally got to pitch in the All-Star game after being selected for the last two but was left in the bullpen. The highlight of his scoreless innings was a 56 mph pitch to Troy Tulowitzki.
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