The Twins have been in Minnesota for 53 years and have played 8,455 games winning 4,204 and losing 4,243. (just a FYI, the Angels who also started play in 1961 have won 4,220 games). Over the 53 years and 8,455 games Twins starters have pitched 9 innings or more in a start exactly 300 times (3.55%). Keep in mind that I am talking 9 innings or more pitched in a start, not complete games.
But sometimes just going 9 innings does not get the job done as you can see in the table below. In these 71 games the Twins starter took the mound in inning number 10 and sometimes even innings 11 and 12. The last Twins starter to hurl more than 9 innings in a start was Brad Radke in 1997.
But only one starting pitcher for the Twins, Jim Merritt has gone 13 innings and that remains a team record that in today’s pitch count world will probably never be broken. The franchise record is 18 innings held by Hall of Famer Walter Johnson who went the distance in a 1-0 Washington Senators win over the Chicago White Sox at Griffith Stadium in just 2 hours and 50 minutes on May 15, 1918.
| Rk | Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | BF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Merritt | 1967-07-26 (2) | MIN | NYY | W 3-2 | GS-13 | 13.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 46 |
| 2 | Camilo Pascual | 1963-07-23 | MIN | CLE | L 2-3 | CG 13 ,L | 12.2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 46 |
| 3 | Dave Boswell | 1969-07-14 | MIN | CHW | W 4-3 | GS-12 | 12.0 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 46 |
| 4 | Jim Kaat | 1969-05-20 | MIN | BAL | W 3-2 | GS-13 ,W | 12.0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 47 |
| 5 | Camilo Pascual | 1964-10-01 | MIN | KCA | L 4-5 | CG 12 ,L | 12.0 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 52 |
| 6 | Jim Roland | 1964-05-19 | MIN | NYY | W 7-2 | GS-12 ,W | 12.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 50 |
| 7 | Camilo Pascual | 1962-09-12 | MIN | CHW | L 1-2 | CG 12 ,L | 12.0 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 47 |
| 8 | Dave Goltz | 1977-07-25 | MIN | OAK | W 2-1 | CG 11 ,W | 11.0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 41 |
| 9 | Bill Singer | 1976-09-01 | MIN | MIL | W 3-2 | GS-11 | 11.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 43 |
| 10 | Dave Goltz | 1976-05-18 | MIN | OAK | W 4-3 | CG 11 ,W | 11.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 43 |
| 11 | Bert Blyleven | 1975-08-27 | MIN | MIL | W 1-0 | SHO11 ,W | 11.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 39 |
| 12 | Jim Kaat | 1973-06-23 | MIN | CAL | L 1-3 | CG 11 ,L | 11.0 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 46 |
| 13 | Jim Kaat | 1972-05-24 | MIN | KCR | W 1-0 | GS-11 ,W | 11.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 40 |
| 14 | Jim Perry | 1970-08-07 | MIN | OAK | W 2-1 | CG 11 ,W | 11.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 41 |
| 15 | Jim Kaat | 1969-04-09 | MIN | KCR | L 3-4 | GS-12 | 11.0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 42 |
| 16 | Jim Kaat | 1964-04-26 | MIN | DET | W 3-2 | CG 11 ,W | 11.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 43 |
| 17 | Jim Kaat | 1962-08-01 | MIN | BAL | W 3-1 | CG 11 ,W | 11.0 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 47 |
| 18 | Pedro Ramos | 1961-04-28 | MIN | LAA | L 5-6 | GS-11 | 11.0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 43 |
| 19 | Mudcat Grant | 1966-08-28 (1) | MIN | CHW | L 3-4 | GS-11 | 10.2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 44 |
| 20 | Jack Kralick | 1961-04-30 | MIN | CHW | L 3-5 | GS-11 ,L | 10.2 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 50 |
| 21 | Bert Blyleven | 1972-09-27 (1) | MIN | OAK | L 0-1 | CG 11 ,L | 10.1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 39 |
| 22 | Jim Kaat | 1962-08-10 | MIN | LAA | L 0-1 | CG 11 ,L | 10.1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 42 |
| 23 | Brad Radke | 1997-09-21 | MIN | MIL | W 2-1 | CG 10 ,W | 10.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 36 |
| 24 | Allan Anderson | 1986-06-11 | MIN | TEX | L 2-6 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 37 |
| 25 | John Butcher | 1985-05-15 | MIN | DET | W 5-4 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 45 |
| 26 | Frank Viola | 1984-09-20 | MIN | CHW | W 5-4 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 36 |
| 27 | Darrell Jackson | 1980-08-14 | MIN | OAK | L 1-2 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 38 |
| 28 | Jerry Koosman | 1980-07-30 | MIN | NYY | W 2-1 | CG 10 ,W | 10.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 38 |
| 29 | Darrell Jackson | 1980-05-10 | MIN | NYY | W 1-0 | GS-10 ,W | 10.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 35 |
| 30 | Dave Goltz | 1979-09-27 | MIN | CHW | L 2-4 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 42 |
| 31 | Paul Hartzell | 1979-07-01 | MIN | CHW | W 2-1 | CG 10 ,W | 10.0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 38 |
| 32 | Dave Goltz | 1978-08-24 | MIN | TEX | L 1-4 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 36 |
| 33 | Roger Erickson | 1978-08-17 | MIN | KCR | W 6-5 | CG 10 ,W | 10.0 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 41 |
| 34 | Dave Goltz | 1976-06-29 | MIN | KCR | L 0-1 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 36 |
| 35 | Bert Blyleven | 1975-09-15 | MIN | CAL | W 7-6 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 42 |
| 36 | Bert Blyleven | 1975-07-17 | MIN | BAL | L 3-6 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 42 |
| 37 | Vic Albury | 1974-06-22 | MIN | CHW | L 1-3 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 40 |
| 38 | Ray Corbin | 1973-09-29 | MIN | CAL | L 3-4 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 39 |
| 39 | Bert Blyleven | 1973-08-30 | MIN | TEX | W 5-2 | GS-11 ,W | 10.0 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 43 |
| 40 | Dick Woodson | 1973-07-17 (1) | MIN | NYY | L 3-4 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 37 |
| 41 | Ray Corbin | 1972-08-27 (2) | MIN | DET | L 0-1 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 36 |
| 42 | Ray Corbin | 1972-08-06 (1) | MIN | OAK | L 3-6 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 43 |
| 43 | Bert Blyleven | 1972-07-08 | MIN | NYY | L 0-1 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 41 |
| 44 | Bert Blyleven | 1971-09-01 | MIN | CHW | L 0-2 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 36 |
| 45 | Jim Perry | 1971-07-15 | MIN | BOS | L 0-3 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| 46 | Jim Perry | 1968-09-11 | MIN | CLE | L 0-1 | GS-10 | 10.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 37 |
| 47 | Jim Merritt | 1968-04-22 | MIN | BAL | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 36 |
| 48 | Jim Kaat | 1967-09-18 | MIN | KCA | W 2-0 | SHO10 ,W | 10.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 36 |
| 49 | Dean Chance | 1967-08-30 | MIN | BAL | L 2-4 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 41 |
| 50 | Jim Kaat | 1964-09-10 | MIN | CHW | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 40 |
| 51 | Dick Stigman | 1964-07-03 | MIN | NYY | W 1-0 | SHO10 ,W | 10.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 32 |
| 52 | Camilo Pascual | 1963-08-25 | MIN | BAL | W 5-3 | CG 10 ,W | 10.0 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 45 |
| 53 | Dick Stigman | 1963-05-03 | MIN | NYY | L 3-4 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 39 |
| 54 | Jim Kaat | 1962-08-05 (1) | MIN | DET | W 8-3 | GS-10 ,W | 10.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 37 |
| 55 | Camilo Pascual | 1961-09-06 (2) | MIN | CHW | L 2-4 | CG 10 ,L | 10.0 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 47 |
| 56 | Jim Hughes | 1975-06-19 | MIN | OAK | L 2-5 | GS-10 ,L | 9.2 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 43 |
| 57 | Jim Kaat | 1971-06-09 | MIN | BAL | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 9.2 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 40 |
| 58 | Jim Merritt | 1968-05-20 | MIN | DET | L 3-4 | GS-10 ,L | 9.2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 39 |
| 59 | Camilo Pascual | 1961-05-02 | MIN | NYY | L 4-6 | GS-10 ,L | 9.2 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 41 |
| 60 | Kevin Tapani | 1992-08-20 | MIN | CLE | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 9.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 32 |
| 61 | Neal Heaton | 1986-10-02 | MIN | CHW | L 4-8 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 35 |
| 62 | Brad Havens | 1982-09-22 | MIN | TOR | L 2-3 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 33 |
| 63 | Roger Erickson | 1981-05-23 | MIN | KCR | L 0-1 | GS-10 | 9.1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 34 |
| 64 | Pete Redfern | 1981-05-09 | MIN | CLE | L 1-2 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 39 |
| 65 | Jerry Koosman | 1981-05-04 | MIN | BAL | L 3-4 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 41 |
| 66 | Roger Erickson | 1980-07-18 | MIN | BOS | L 0-1 | CG 10 ,L | 9.1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 38 |
| 67 | Jerry Koosman | 1980-07-02 | MIN | KCR | L 3-4 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 38 |
| 68 | Dave Goltz | 1976-06-21 | MIN | CAL | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 9.1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 36 |
| 69 | Ray Corbin | 1972-09-27 (2) | MIN | OAK | L 1-2 | CG 10 ,L | 9.1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 39 |
| 70 | Jim Kaat | 1962-05-20 (2) | MIN | NYY | W 4-2 | GS-10 | 9.1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| 71 | Camilo Pascual | 1961-09-29 | MIN | DET | L 4-6 | GS-10 ,L | 9.1 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 43 |
What about the relievers?
But it is not just starting pitchers that have toiled long and hard to win a game. Here I look at relievers who have pitched 7 or more innings of relief in a game and Ray Corbin holds the team record for pitching 10.1 innings of relief against the Tigers in 1975. Corbin who was a starter/reliever during his five years in Minnesota pitched in just 11 more big league games after this long relief outing allowing at least one earned run in each appearance and never again pitched in a big league game.
| Rk | Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | BF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Corbin | 1975-05-21 | MIN | DET | W 6-5 | 1-11f,W | 10.1 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 42 |
| 2 | Jim Kaat | 1969-09-06 | MIN | OAK | W 8-6 | 9-18 ,W | 9.1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 44 |
| 3 | John Sutton | 1978-08-07 | MIN | SEA | L 5-6 | 5-13 | 9.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 34 |
| 4 | Vic Albury | 1975-06-30 | MIN | CAL | L 3-10 | 1-9f | 9.0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 38 |
| 5 | John Verhoeven | 1980-07-21 (1) | MIN | BAL | W 8-7 | 3-11f,W | 8.2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 34 |
| 6 | Tom Burgmeier | 1976-08-30 | MIN | MIL | W 10-3 | 1-9f ,W | 8.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 29 |
| 7 | Tom Burgmeier | 1976-04-25 | MIN | BAL | W 7-2 | 1-9f ,W | 8.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 30 |
| 8 | Al Worthington | 1967-08-09 | MIN | WSA | L 7-9 | 8-16 | 8.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 30 |
| 9 | Tom Johnson | 1976-09-02 | MIN | MIL | W 8-4 | 1-9f ,W | 8.1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 31 |
| 10 | Bill Campbell | 1975-06-10 | MIN | CLE | W 5-3 | 1-10 | 8.1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 32 |
| 11 | Tom Hall | 1969-08-17 | MIN | WSA | W 4-3 | 3-11 | 8.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 30 |
| 12 | Pedro Ramos | 1961-06-16 | MIN | CHW | W 6-1 | 2-9f ,W | 8.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 28 |
| 13 | Dennis Burtt | 1985-10-04 | MIN | CLE | L 6-8 | 1-8 ,L | 7.2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 28 |
| 14 | Pete Filson | 1985-05-19 | MIN | TOR | W 8-2 | 2-9f ,W | 7.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 27 |
| 15 | Mac Scarce | 1978-06-07 | MIN | CHW | L 3-8 | 2-9f | 7.2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 27 |
| 16 | Tom Burgmeier | 1976-08-25 | MIN | NYY | L 4-5 | 12-19f,L | 7.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 25 |
| 17 | Vic Albury | 1975-06-24 | MIN | OAK | L 4-6 | 1-8f | 7.2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 34 |
| 18 | Bill Butler | 1974-09-13 | MIN | KCR | W 6-5 | 2-9 | 7.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 28 |
| 19 | Jim Kaat | 1962-05-12 | MIN | KCA | W 5-4 | 2-9f ,W | 7.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 25 |
| 20 | Dave Goltz | 1974-07-19 | MIN | DET | W 7-5 | 1-8 ,W | 7.1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 29 |
| 21 | Danny Fife | 1973-08-22 | MIN | BAL | L 3-4 | 1-8f ,L | 7.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 28 |
| 22 | Dave Boswell | 1965-05-11 | MIN | CAL | W 3-2 | 1-8 | 7.1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 28 |
| 23 | Lee Stange | 1962-08-04 | MIN | DET | W 4-3 | 2-9f ,W | 7.1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 27 |
| 24 | Bill Pleis | 1962-07-04 (1) | MIN | BOS | W 8-4 | 2-9f ,W | 7.1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 28 |
| 25 | Jack O’Connor | 1982-06-26 | MIN | TOR | W 4-3 | 1-8 | 7.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 27 |
| 26 | Jeff Holly | 1977-05-01 | MIN | DET | W 6-5 | 3-9f ,W | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 23 |
| 27 | Tom Johnson | 1975-08-11 | MIN | MIL | W 8-7 | 3-9f ,W | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 28 |
| 28 | Ray Corbin | 1975-07-24 | MIN | BOS | L 2-6 | 3-9f | 7.0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 29 |
| 29 | Jim Hughes | 1975-05-04 | MIN | KCR | W 6-3 | 3-9f ,W | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 30 |
| 30 | Bill Campbell | 1974-08-08 | MIN | KCR | W 3-2 | 8-14f,W | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 31 |
| 31 | Bill Hands | 1973-09-01 | MIN | TEX | W 10-7 | 3-9f ,W | 7.0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 28 |
| 32 | Ray Corbin | 1971-07-17 | MIN | WSA | W 5-3 | 3-9f ,W | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 25 |
| 33 | Jim Perry | 1964-08-06 | MIN | BOS | W 6-5 | 1-7 ,W | 7.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 31 |