MINNEAPOLIS - If he was running for president, Daniel Bard would have excellent favorability ratings.

He has transitioned well from his setup role to starter, but should Bard be a flip-flopper? Could he be viewed as Boston’s savior, the man who could rescue the Red Sox bullpen?

Monday night, in a 6-5 win over the Twins, he was all that.

Manager Bobby Valentine had contemplated where and when would he use Bard, who had agreed to make one relief appearance before his next start Friday night in Chicago after his Sunday start vs. the Yankees had been postponed.

Former manager Terry Francona used to say that Bard pitched the toughest innings and the toughest situations. That happened Monday night. He came on in the eighth inning in a 5-5 game with one out and with Jamey Carroll at third base after Ryan Sweeney misplayed Carroll’s single down the right-field line for a two-base error.

Lefty Franklin Morales, who started the inning and gave up the hit to Carroll, got Joe Mauer to ground to first, and then Valentine called on Bard to face the red-hot Josh Willingham. Willingham ran the count to 3-2 and hit it on the button, but right at Kevin Youkilis at third.

After Bard intentionally walked Justin Morneau, Ryan Doumit popped to shortstop Mike Aviles in short left-center to end the inning and preserve the tie.

Bard, who got the win, threw 11 pitches and didn’t get to work the ninth. That was left to closer Alfredo Aceves, who got the save after Cody Ross hit the go-ahead homer in the ninth.

“Yeah, it felt like the same thing I’ve done the last few years,’’ Bard said.

“I was in jams in my last start and I worked out of those. It’s just that I was a lot fresher because I hadn’t thrown that many pitches. I was trying to strike out Willingham. I made a 3-2 pitch and he did a good job to get the barrel on it. He hit a good pitch.’’

Did he take a different approach now that he’s been a starting pitcher?