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.
La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts. Mark Rosen borrows him occasionally for WCCO-TV.
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
After adding Cron and Schoop, Twins go dormant at Winter Meetings
Baldelli on Buxton's criticism: 'Byron has earned the right to express himself'
With market for closers slow, Twins may not do much at winter meetings
Gimenez hired by Dodgers; Pickler joins Reds staff
StarTribune.com welcomes and encourages readers to comment and engage in substantive, mutually respectful exchanges over news topics. Commenters must follow our Terms of Use.
Comments will be reviewed before being published.