Ervin Santana scratched from Sunday start, Duffey to take his place

Twins assistant GM Rob Antony announced this morning that righthander Ervin Santana has been scratched from his start on Sunday because of s stiff back.

Righthander Tyler Duffey, who was a 1.72 ERA through three starts at Class AAA Rochester, has been called up to start in place of Santana on Sunday. The Twins will announce a move tomorrow to make room for Duffey.

Santana threw in the bullpen on Friday and felt fine, but his back began to tighten up on him as the evening progressed. The Twins decided not to risk it, considering Santana has to hit and run the bases as well as pitch. They are confident that he will miss just one start.

Duffey had a spot in the rotation during spring training but pitched his way out of it.

Sano, 3B

Twins manager Paul Molitor left the ballpark on Friday night with Sano penciled in at third base today. Then he changed his mind and took him out.

But this morning, Molitor changed his mind once again and told Sano that he was getting his first start at third since he was supposed to spend the entire season in right field.

``We have encountered some unforeseen circumstances with the start of our season," Molitor said. ``Including losing our most versatile player off the bench and our regular third baseman. I'd be foolish not to consider the possibility of Miguel coming back in, at least on a short-term bases."

It is not a permanent move.

``We're not abandoning right field," Molitor said.

Again, it is not a permanent move.

``Today was one of those days where I gave some thought about who I wanted to see play," Molitor said. ``The best way to do that, and get some lefthanded bats in there was to go ahead and get Miguel a game at third base."

``I wanted to play third," Sano said. ``He said sometimes I'll play."

He doesn't mind playing right field - note the difference - but wants to become a good outfielder.

``It's good (for me to play)," Sano said of his right field experience. ``It will help my future."

This move doesn't come without risks. Molitor wanted left-handed hitters in the lineup. But they are batting 171 against Tanner Roark while righthanded hitters are batting .424. The other thing is defense isn't Sano's strong suit. He's better at third, at least more experienced, but no one called him a good defender as he rose through the system.

And, as ESPN's Buster Olney pointed out after the lineup hit twitter, Phil Hughes is one of the extreme fly ball pitchers in the league. If there was a game to get Sano at third, a game with more fly balls than ground balls would be it.

``I trust it enough to give it a shot today and hopefully it works out."

Twins

Brian Dozier, 2B
Eddie Rosario, LF
Joe Mauer, 1B
Miguel Sano, 3B
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Max Kepler, CF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Phil Hughes, RHP

Nationals