Here are three quick thoughts from LEN3 following the Twins' loss to the Tigers with an update ... Alan Busenitz was called up Monday:
ALAN BUSENITZ TO BE CALLED UP: The Twins designated lefthander Craig Breslow for assignment after Sunday's 9-6 loss to Detroit. Busenitz (above) had a 2.08 ERA in six outings with the Twins in June and, if I remember correctly, we was sent down because of a numbers crunch. It's time to bring him up here. First off, he has a mid-90s fastball and decent breaking ball. Second, there's a little at stake here. With Sunday's loss, the Twins are 2.5 games out of first place in the AL Central - and in sole posession of third place. They've been in third place three days this month - the first time since May 1. It will be good development for him as he learns his way around the league.
BRESLOW PRAISED: The Twins wanted to make sure they had the right character guys in the clubhouse this season, and Breslow was definitely one of them. Molitor pointed out how much he helped younger pitchers during his time with the Twins. He added that it was hard to tell Breslow he was being let go because he's a high character person. But the Twins need bullpen help and hope Busenitz will develop into a solid bullpen contributor. "I know there's some guys here that the Craig Breslow affect will go beyond him being here, physcially, in our clubhouse," Molitor said.
ESCOBAR'S AT BAT: Eduardo Escobar battled with Tigers reliever Shane Greene with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning. The Twins were down one run at the time, so a hit could have given the Twins a lead or tied the score. Escobar started fouling off pitches, eight in all during the at-bat. That included four straight one point. The crowd rose to its feet as fans were ready for a big hit. But Greene, with the 13th pitch, got a 96-mph fastball by him to end the inning. It had to be one of his best at-bats of his career before he struck out. "You have to credit to that pitcher when it's due," Escobar said. "He was throwing his best stuff at me, but someone has to win it. And obviously he won. He did a good job and was able to get me. The last pitch, I was trying to hit it up the middle but he beat me."
