Postgame: Two hits from a backup catcher? It's rare for Twins

    Some leftovers from a gloomy day at Target Field:

    — It was a modest achievement, but still notable for the Twins. Juan Centeno, called up last weekend to be the backup catcher while John Ryan Murphy tries to rediscover his swing in Rochester, singled twice on Wednesday, though he was stranded on base both times. Why is that notable? Since the beginning of 2015, Twins’ backup catchers have enjoyed two-hit games only four times — once by Eric Fryer, twice by Chris Herrmann and now Centeno. Since Kurt Suzuki arrived in 2014, in fact, he has hit .260. His backups have hit a combined .174.

    — Joe Mauer’s second day as the Twins’ leadoff hitter went better than his first. After going 0-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday, Mauer singled to open the first inning on Wednesday, then walked in the fifth and singled again in the eighth inning. The Twins’ offense hasn’t exactly been sparked by the move, though. Minnesota scored only five runs in the two games.

    — The Orioles are the hottest home run-hitting team in the majors at the moment, clubbing four on Wednesday. And when Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo smacked long blasts off Phil Hughes in the fourth inning, they made a little team history. No, not for distance, though Twins manager Paul Molitor noted about Trumbo, who also homered in the second inning: “First two swings of the day, he hits the ball about 900 feet.” But the feat marked the third straight game they’ve hit back-to-back home runs, which puts them in range of some baseball (and Twins) history. Minnesota holds the MLB record with four consecutive games of back-to-back home runs, having accomplished it June 26-29, 1964.