a night to remember

It has been a largely forgettable season for Minnesota, which has languished near the bottom of the American League Central much of the time, and for former Southern Miss star Brian Dozier, who has had to battle to keep a job in his second big league tour with the Twins. In that context, a game like Friday night’s becomes all the more exhilarating. Dozier knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning — his first career walk-off hit — as the Twins (46-60) stopped a four-game skid with a 4-3 win over Houston. Dozier, who went 3-for-7 and extended his hitting streak to nine games, had quite the night. He doubled in the eighth inning and scored to tie it at 2-2. In the ninth, after the Astros had gone back in front 3-2, he drove in the tying run. Then came the big hit in the 13th. “A confidence booster,” Dozier told The Associated Press. Dozier, who was moved from shortstop to second base this season, is hitting just .236, though he does have nine home runs. There could be changes in Minnesota in the off-season; manager Ron Gardenhire, the former Jackson Mets shortstop, may be on the way out if the club doesn’t perk up. Dozier, a .298 career hitter in the minors, may need a strong finish to secure his spot for 2014.