Twins fans, we got our wish. Manager Ron Gardenhire took Joe Nathan out of the deep freeze in all 3 ballgames thus far in their series against Detroit, and - wonder of wonders - they won all three ballgames.

Granted, each situation was practically tailor-made to bringing in the closer to get the almighty "Save" Gardy clearly considers when deciding whether to bring Nathan into the game. The only slight deviation was the first game of the series, when Nathan pitched the bottom of the 9th in a tie ballgame. However, given the amount the rest of the bullpen was forced to pitch in the previous series, thanks to Nathan's lack of use, he's the only guy with a fresh arm Gardy could have used in the situation. If you think Gardenhire clearly learned a lesson from the Red Sox series, I say no.

He did use Nathan in both save situations in the two following games, which I am sure gave Gardy much consternation. However, ensuring that you win this series is vastly important from an emotional standpoint. Win this series, especially if you win 3 in a row, and that sweep at the hands of the Red Sox might not sting so much anymore.

Yesterday's game looked like a pretty easy victory through the first 7 innings. Brendan Harris was having the game of his life, Joe Mauer hit a 2-run homer, and starter Scott Baker was humming along, looking set to potentially pitch through the 8th to hand the ball over to the bullpen with a comfortable 6-2 lead.

Then, Alexi Casilla's inexperience struck like that bad rash you keep thinking has gone away only to reappear on the morning of your big date with that girl from accounting you'd taken 3 months to work up the courage to ask out.

On a single to left by Tigers SS Ramon Santiago, LF Delmon Young fired the ball back into the infield to Twins SS Alexzi Casilla, who inexplicably fired the ball to first base to try to get Santiago out at the bag. Casilla's throw was way off the mark and went into the dugout, advancing Santiago to third. Perhaps Baker's pitch count, which was creeping close to 100, was the main factor, but one cannot discount the emotonal toll this one play must take on a young starter late in the game on the road. This one play completely rattled Baker and allowed Granderson's ensuing 2-run shot to occur. Suddenly, it's a 6-4 ballgame and an overused middle-relief corps was called upon once again to try to get the bell to Nathan in the 9th.

Even my much better half, God bless her, was asking the question Twins fans have been asking for a while now: why not use Nathan here? Now, this is a slightly different situation, since Nathan had pitched both the previous ballgames and threw a lot of pitches to get the save Friday night.

Let this sink in for a moment: such is the state of confidence we have in this bullpen here in Twins Territory. If it's not Nathan, all bets are off.

The bullpen certainly made things interesting, as Jesse Crain was able to get a big strikeout on Miguel Cabrera, but was lifted for LegoMan (seriously, Dennys Reyes looks like a lego), who let the runners advance on a wild pitch, which led to an RBI grounder by pinch hitter Ryan Raburn.

Brian Bass then came in for Reyes and, incredibly, pitched well to get Marcus Thames out to end the inning, leaving the ninth to Nathan.

But the Twins still had a chance to get some insurance runs in the top of the 9th. After Gomez weakly grounded out to right, Alexi Casilla roped a double into RF, a play that might have gone 3 bases had Casilla not hit the brakes as he was making his way around second. Perhaps Scott Ullger was giving him the stop sign, but the ball was not coming in as quickly as Casilla made it seem, thus he was at second, instead of third.

In a solid AB, Mauer struck out (props to Zumaya - Mauer does not whiff much), which allowed the Tigers to walk Morneau to pitch to the DH. Kubel comes in for Craig Monroe, with Zumaya, a righty, on the mound. A wild pitch advances both runners, so insurance runs are now in scoring position. Unfortunately, Kubel walked. Yes, I say it's unfortunate, because with the bases loaded, Delmon Young comes to the plate.

To say that Young does not exactly inspire confidence in clutch situations like this would be an understatement. And, this lack of confidence was not brought into question after Young struck out in a particularly ugly AB, flailing on a strike-out pitch in the dirt.

But Nathan closed the door in the ninth and Twins fans changed channels content that at least for one more night, they did enough to eke out the win.

But I'm a fan who has three wishes, and the Twins are my ever-frustrating Genie in the Lamp. One of them seems to have come true, sort of: Ron Gardenhire's at least decided to use Joe Nathan. Unfortunately, he's still only using him in obvious save situations, but at least it's something.

My other two wishes I shall bring in my second post of the day, as I finally have my second iteration of, and my first ever SUNDAY iteration of my Come to Jesus series.

Until then, go eat something. It's breakfast time.