Twinkie Town: Heroics Coming From Unlikely Sources

Everyone wanted future MVP Joe Mauer to win the game for the Twinkies tonight (well, except Tigers fans), but it was two unlikely players to pull it off in the 12th inning and give the Twins the A.L. Central crown:

Finally, it was Alexi Casilla, who redeemed himself for a late break on a tag play in the bottom of the 10th, to hit the game winning single, scoring Carlos Gomez from second.

Neither player started the game—Gomez was a defensive substitution and Casilla was a pinch runner. Neither player played much down the stretch as both players were benched during the season. But their presence in the middle of the mob around home plate as the Twins celebrated their fifth division championship this decade is indicative of the Twins season. It took the entire team to win this division and it took the entire team to win this game.