MINNEAPOLIS — Brian Duensing figures he’ll have at least one thing going for him tonight: The Yankees probably have no idea who he is.
By default, the Twins rookie lefty will receive the chance of a lifetime when he faces CC Sabathia in Game 1 of the AL Division Series at the Stadium.
Though the Twins expended plenty of energy just to reach this point — they needed a 6-5 victory over the Tigers last night in 12 innings just to clinch the AL Central while the Yankees have rested for two days — Duensing isn’t concerned.
“Maybe they are stagnant a little bit and that might help us get off on the right foot,” Duensing said.
Duensing (5-2, 3.64 ERA) will be followed in the Minnesota rotation by Nick Blackburn, Carl Pavano and Scott Baker. Pavano, a $39.95 million bust with the Yankees over four injury plagued seasons, said he’s been schooling Duensing on what to expect in The Bronx.
“I told him things I had a tough time with that were a big surprise to me,” Pavano said. “Dealing with the media, before your start, after your start, whether you win or lose. I just gave him a heads up that these are things you have to be comfortable with. I wasn’t comfortable with it, but between the lines I’m not worried about that young man.”
Duensing made a relief appearance against the Yankees on July 7 here and allowed four earned runs on two hits and four walks over 22/3 innings in a 10-2 loss for the Twins.
Minnesota pitching coach Rick Anderson just wants Duensing to keep the Twins close tonight. This after needing eight pitchers to survive yesterday’s game.
“We’ll run [Duensing] out there and the rest of the bullpen and see what we’ve got,” Anderson said.
Does anything about Duensing’s makeup suggest he can handle tonight’s assignment?
“To think about the last couple of weeks almost every game was a do-or-die and the guys came up big,” Anderson said. “We’ll run him out there at Yankee Stadium and he’ll have fun.”