Entering Wednesday night's game against Toronto, Crain boasted a 1.93 earned-run average while allowing only one hit in his past four innings.

That includes retiring all six batters he faced in Minnesota's 3-2 victory Tuesday, when he enjoyed superior command of his breaking ball.

"The ball came out of his hand last night as good as we've seen," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He didn't overthrow the breaking ball. When he's relaxed like that and doesn't overthrow, he's very good."

Perhaps good enough for a regular turn as the eighth-inning setup for closer Joe Nathan, although Gardenhire wants to evaluate veteran right-hander Luis Ayala in that capacity as well.

Ayala, 31, signed as a free agent after going 2-10 with a 5.71 ERA last year combined with the New York Mets and Washington Nationals.

"Right now, it's a matter of him using the sinker more. He's got to trust that sinker," Gardenhire said about Ayala. "It's bread and butter, especially with our infield like it is."

Crain credits his early-season success to being able to concentrate on pitching instead of wondering how he would fit back in the Twins' bullpen and worrying how his shoulder would hold up.

In May 2007, he had season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff.

Crain has picked up where he left off at the end of last season, when he held opponents to a .108 average in his last 12 appearances.

Crain is healthy, confident and determined to be the go-to guy in the late innings.

"Whenever I get in there I've just got to go out there and get outs," he said. "The setup role is one I want to be in. It's the role I've really done my whole career."

Honoring a pioneer: Wednesday marked the 62nd anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Baseball's color barrier.

For the first time Wednesday, all major league players wore No. 42 to honor the man who debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

"He was a pioneer," Twins first-base coach Jerry White said. "The things he had to deal with to play. He jumped those hurdles to get where he wanted to get. I think he played for the love of the game."

The recognition resonated with White, who played 10 seasons for the Montreal Expos and knows the significance that city played in Baseball integration.

The Montreal Royals were the Dodgers' primary farm team and promoted Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella to Brooklyn in the late '40s.

"It was an honor just to play with the Expos knowing that all those guys came through there," White said.

Stelly's back: Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, who missed the first nine games of the season because of fatigue, rejoined the team and took his familiar place with the relievers down the left-field line at the Metrodome.

"Back to the routine. Back to the grind," said Stelmaszek, 60, who holds the longevity record for Twins coaches at 29 seasons. "Actually, feels pretty good."

Briefly: A moment of silence was held before the game to recognize former Twins broadcaster Merle Harmon (1967-69), who died Wednesday.