New-look rotation rolling
BY KELSIE SMITH
Pioneer Press
When the Twins broke camp in March, general manager Terry Ryan opted for a veteran pitching staff, sending his young arms to Class AAA Rochester.
Scott Baker, Matt Garza, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins and David Gassner made for a dominant International League starting staff, and the five arms spent the first month of the season maintaining one of the lowest earned-run averages for any starting rotation in the IL.
But soon the bullpen in Minnesota needed help, so up came Perkins. Next, the veteran tactic started to crumble. Sidney Ponson was the first to exit the rotation, replaced by Baker in May. Next went Ramon Ortiz. Slowey first took that spot, which Garza holds now.
Today the dominant Red Wings starting staff looks almost nothing like it did when the season started in April. Slowey and Gassner are the only remaining pieces, the other places now filled by Nick Blackburn, Brian Bass and Brian Duensing - a new-look staff that has continued the early season's strong starting efforts.
With a 39-39 record as of Friday, the Red Wings staff has compiled a 3.59 ERA, the fourth-best in the 14-team International League.
The emergence of Blackburn, who is in his sixth year with the Twins organization, has been especially surprising. The right-hander joined the team from Class AA New Britain after Baker departed and threw back-to-back shutouts. He's now 6-1 with a 2.24 ERA in 12 starts.
Duensing started the season with New Britain, going 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA in nine starts. The left-hander is 9-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 starts with the Red Wings. His combined 13 wins are the most of any Twins minor league pitcher this season.
"They've all stepped up obviously," Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz said, adding that Duensing, the Twins' third-round pick in 2005, has been particularly impressive. "He's stepped up as well as Blackburn. He's a guy that's got a good mix, moves the ball in and out, doesn't beat himself. He's kind of been on a fast track with the organization, too. Every place he's gone he's done a nice job."
Bass began the season in the bullpen. He has started six of the 32 games in which he's appeared, going 5-2 with a 3.86 ERA. Gassner has had the toughest time of any starter and also has started the most games. He is 2-14 with a 5.51 ERA in 20 starts.
Slowey has remained steady all season. The precise right-hander is 8-3 with a minuscule 1.85 ERA. He has walked just 11 batters and struck out 82.
CATCHING A BREAK
Red Wings catcher Chris Heintz broke his right wrist on Thursday when he was hit by a pitch. He'll be on the disabled list for three to four weeks, Rantz said.
With a few other catchers already down with injuries (Allen De San Miguel, who was stationed with Class A Fort Meyers, is out with a broken finger and Rodolfo Palacios, who had been catching for Elizabethon in the rookie league, recently had knee surgery) Rantz sent Korey Feiner from Fort Myers to Rochester (Feiner has now been stationed in Class A, AA and AAA this season).
BRIEFLY
 Blackburn made his first start on Friday since going on the disabled list July 16 with right forearm soreness. He gave up two runs on three hits in three innings and got a no-decision in Rochester's win.
Entering Saturday's game, the Red Wings were two games out of first and in a tie for the International League wild card.
Webposted August 4, 2007
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