In Ward, Henke, There Is Relief : American League: Blue Jay bullpen comes to rescue in 5-2 victory over Twins to square series, 1-1.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen generally is considered to be the deepest and best in the American League.

It is built around Tom Henke, the longtime closer, and Duane Ward, who has proven to be as strong a closer as almost anyone with that official or unofficial role.

Ward was saying all the right things about his undefined job description Wednesday after saving a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins that tied the AL championship series at one game apiece.

Henke wasn’t saying anything after successfully appearing in a critical set-up situation.

“I’ll talk tomorrow,” said the generally affable and articulate Henke, who is never completely happy, sources close to the club indicated, when he isn’t in that closer role--when Ward is out there with the game on the line.

Call it the macho mystique of the relief ace, perhaps, although Henke had assured Manager Cito Gaston and reporters on the eve of the playoffs that he would gladly pitch in any situation.

Sidelined since Sept. 17 by shoulder tendinitis, Henke had made only two one-inning appearances on the final weekend of the regular season.

“A week ago, I couldn’t even play catch,” he said Monday. “I’m better now, but you’ve got to go with the hot hand. That’s Duane, and I accept that. I mean, I’ll eventually be the closer again, but it may not be this year.”

Gaston said: “I talked to both of them Monday and said I might use either one of them in the closer role depending on the situation and availability. I also told them that I had to go with Duane for the time being because Tom’s shoulder was still a question. They both said that all I had to do was call.”

It is unclear if Henke was still accepting that Wednesday, but this much is certain: He accepted the ball at a critical juncture in the sixth inning and responded flawlessly, raising his team’s morale.

“A big lift,” third baseman Kelly Gruber said of Henke’s performance. “We’ve got to have him. It’s vital. I don’t see us going all the way without him. It can be done, but the chances are definitely better with him.”

With two on, two out and the Twins trailing, 3-2, Henke needed only one pitch to retire the dangerous Shane Mack on a tap to the mound. Henke set the Twins down in order in the seventh, striking out Mike Pagliarulo and Greg Gagne.

Chuck Knoblauch greeted Ward with a leadoff single in the eighth, but the last six Twins went out in order, four by strikeout.

“I’ve been a middle man, set-up man and closer, and it makes no difference to me,” Ward said. “I have the same mentality every time I’m out there, and that’s to kick (butt).

“This is the first year I’ve really had a chance to shine as the closer, but I’m happy as hell to have Tom back because that means we have a much better chance to be successful.

“The biggest thing on everyone’s mind was to see how he responded after pitching Friday and Sunday.”

Said Toronto general manager Pat Gillick: “I like Bryan Harvey (of the Angels) a lot, but I don’t think anybody has better bullpen depth than we do. It’s our strength, and Ward is probably the most valuable pitcher on our team. He’s adapted to a lot of roles.”

The 6-foot-4 Ward, whose fastball was clocked in the low 90s Wednesday, has saved 11 or more games in each of the last four years, with a career-high 23 in 25 chances this year; Henke saved 32 of 35 after missing almost six weeks in April and May because of a groin pull.

Ward, 27, appeared in 81 games, held opponents to a .208 batting average and allowed only 80 hits in 107 innings, striking out 132.

The Toronto pitching staff led the league in earned-run average and saves, with 60. The relievers also recorded 24 victories, including a league high for a relief pitcher, 10 by Mike Timlin.

It was predicted that bullpen depth would be a factor in this series, and it was Wednesday, when Steve Bedrosian gave up two runs in the seventh inning after his Twins had closed within a run in the sixth. Henke and Ward stretched a playoff shutout streak by Toronto relief pitchers to 8 2/3 innings.

At his locker later, Ward said he and Henke have always supported each other.

“It’s hard to find enough saves for two guys,” Ward said. “We definitely have a unique situation, but the only thing that’s important now is the win.

“I mean, the set-up man is just as important as the closer. If Tom doesn’t do the job today, what good is mine? I had the three-run lead. He came in with the Twins making their charge. That was the game, the save.”

Did Henke look at it that way? He wasn’t saying.