August has been successful for Twins reliever Alex Colomé. In six outings out of the bullpen, Colomé hasn’t allowed a run in 5 1/3 innings and has picked up five saves, including his second in two days in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the White Sox.
The success has manager Rocco Baldelli leaning toward using Colomé in the late innings. Colomé is a veteran of the ninth inning, with 145 saves in his nine-year career. His best year was 2017, when he saved a career-high 47 games with the Rays. But he struggled in the closer's role for Minnesota early this season and went into August with only one save opportunity since April 21.
“We have watched him throw lately. The hitters are telling us that cutter and fastball mix have just been very tough lately,” Baldelli said about Colomé. "He is throwing very confidently, whether he starts ahead in the count or not. Even when he started behind in the count, he still found ways to get bad swings on the other side of the field.”
Colomé said he is grateful to be pitching in the ninth inning again. He is getting his chance this month because left-hander Taylor Rogers is on the injured list with a left middle finger sprain.
"I feel good that [Baldelli] is giving me the opportunity,” Colomé said. “Regardless of the changes and things like that, just getting the opportunity to come out and do my job, I try to be ready whenever he needs me regardless of when."