Mark wins historical battle of Mimbs' twins By BOB BROOKOVER Courier-Post Staff CLEARWATER, Fla. - Mark Mimbs won. Michael Mimbs lost. Michael Mimbs struck out Mark Mimbs. The whole Mimbs family watched. Yes, it was Mimbs Madness on Sunday at Jack Russell Stadium. In an exhibition event that drew more than twice as much coverage as an ordinary springtraining game, the Mimbs brothers became the first twins in major-league history to start against one another. Their pitching lines were similar, but not identical. Both pitched two innings. Both gave up two hits. Both walked two. But Mark Mimbs allowed just one run, while Michael Mimbs surrendered a three-run home run to Kevin Elster and was left with the loss as the Phillies dropped a 6-5 decision to the Texas Rangers. "The first thing we want to do is win jobs with our teams," said Mark Mimbs, who was selected by the Rangers as a Rule 5 draft pick over the winter. "The second thing we wanted today was to pitch against one another. We never dreamed when we were little that we'd be able to pitch against each other at this level in front of our family and friends. It's a dream come true." After a pause, Michael Mimbs spoke. "He took the words right out of my mouth," Michael said. Although they pitched on op- posite sides, the Mimbs twins found themselves pulling for one another just as they have since their childhood in Macon, Ga. "I really had a lot of emotions," Michael Mimbs said. "I guess I was pulling for him and pulling for the team at the same time. When (Darren) Daulton (was called out looking on strikes in the first inning), I said, 'That's a check swing.' Then I thought, 'What am I saying?' It's like I was still out on the mound." Mark Mimbs had a similar experience in the top of the second when Elster hit his threerun home run. "I was on deck and my heart sunk to the ground," Mark Mimbs said. "I felt for (Michael). The next thing I knew, I was in the batter's box." In the batter's box and striking out. Michael promised not to mention that strikeout. "I won't mention the three-run homer," Mark said. "You didn't hit that," Michael countered as the sibling rivalry briefly heated up. In the end, a good time was had by all. "We had 25 people here on passes, including my mom and dad," Michael Mimbs said. Now, the Mimbs brothers hope they'll be an encore some day. "I know we can't pitch against each other this year because we're in different leagues," Mark said. "But maybe we can in a couple years with interleague play coming. Or maybe we'll see each other in the World Series. That would be taking it to another level."
