BC-BBA–Twins-Santana,0332

Twins make it official: Santana to start Game 4 on short rest

By DAVE CAMPBELL

AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Johan Santana is ready to start against the New York Yankees on short rest.

The left-hander told Minnesota Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson on Friday that his arm felt fine, which was all manager Ron Gardenhire needed to hear.

Santana, who threw seven shutout innings in Minnesota’s Game 1 victory Tuesday, will oppose New York’s Javier Vazquez in Game 4 of the first-round AL playoff series Saturday afternoon.

“You’ve got to throw your best at them, and if he wants the ball, that’s good enough for us,” Gardenhire said Friday before Game 3.

Santana, who went 13-0 in his last 15 regular-season starts, led the league in ERA (2.61) and strikeouts (265). His durability has been a concern for the Twins, who carefully watched his pitch counts down the stretch. Santana has only one complete game in 75 major league starts and his 228 innings surpassed his career high by nearly 70.

He’s never thrown on three days’ rest in the majors, either, but this is the postseason – when the adrenaline is always flowing.

“This time of year, it doesn’t matter,” Santana said. “I feel pretty good, and that’s the most important thing. … You have to make sure that you are ready, because if not the ball is going to be out of the park.”

Santana started Games 1 and 4 of Minnesota’s first-round series against New York last season, but an extra off day allowed him to pitch on his normal routine. In Game 4 last year, Santana gave up six runs and didn’t get through the fourth inning in an 8-1 loss to David Wells and the Yankees that eliminated the Twins.

“Last year is last year,” Santana said. “It’s not even close to what it is this year. We’re going to be a little more experienced, mature, knowing the game better. It makes a lot of difference.”

AP-ES-10-08-04 1907EDT