twin050209

On the homepage

Scanners

Full-body scanners headed for MSP

Out There

Gas lines

10 years later, same fire, anger

Club Outdoors

Behind closed doors

Home | Sports

Mauer's swing still rings for Twins

It all clicked for Joe Mauer in a season debut that started with a homer and ended with a Twins victory.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 2, 2009 - 7:33 AM

Print this story

TWINS 7, KANSAS CITY 5

Up next: 6:10 p.m. today vs. Kansas City • Metrodome • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

More from Sports

Denard Span nearly had to crawl over a couple of sofas in the Twins clubhouse to avoid the media blitz that sought streams of consciousness from the seemingly unconscious Joe Mauer.

"Michael Jordan," Span said with a grin.

Like when Jordan rained three-pointers on opponents then shrugged his shoulders in amazement, Mauer had teammates shrugging their shoulders on the bench Friday during the Twins' 7-5 victory over the Royals.

Mauer missed the first month of the season because of lingering lower back pain from last year. His spring training playing schedule consisted of basically a few controlled scrimmages and five games against Class A Florida State League competition.

The two-time batting champion declared himself ready to face major league pitching and dug in on Friday for his first at-bat of the season.

Ball one. Ball two. Home run.

His first swing of the season became a home run to left that gave the Twins a 1-0 lead.

"There were at least a couple guys saying, 'Is it that easy?' " Twins righthander Kevin Slowey said.

"I heard a couple 'Oh my Gods' on the bench,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Mauer trumpeted his return to the lineup by going 2-for-3 with a homer, double and three runs scored to lead the Twins' attack.

Before the game, Gardenhire tried to manage expectations.

"Let him join in with the rest of the boys, grab an oar and we'll be fine," he said.

Mauer didn't just help row the boat, he turbocharged the engine and steered the ship as the Twins won their third consecutive game, in front of an announced Metrodome crowd of 24,727.

The Twins trailed 2-1 in the fourth when Mauer led off but fell behind 0-2 against former Twin Sidney Ponson. But Mauer got a hanger and lined it down the left-field line for a double.

"He's a good hitter," Ponson said, "You make a mistake, he's going to hurt you. And I made a lot of mistakes today.''

Ponson had retired seven Twins in a row before the double. The double was the first of six hits in the inning that produced four runs and a 5-2 lead.

Mauer had a harder time trying to get Slowey locked in. Slowey gave up three runs in the fifth as Kansas City tied the score 5-5.

Mauer walked with one out in the bottom of the inning, then jogged home on Justin Morneau's 414-foot homer to center for a 7-5 Twins lead. Slowey gave up five runs over five innings but improved to 4-0. Ponson fell to 0-4.

Gardenhire said Mauer is the rare hitter who can go to the plate with little preparation and still have an impact on a game. He will check with Mauer today to make sure he's able to play after his first nine-inning game.

"There was definitely a different feel on the bench,'' Gardenhire said. "He has that effect. We said he would, and he did.''

Twins fans showed how much they missed Mauer.

They erupted with applause when he ran onto the field to warm up before the game, cheered more during pregame introductions, then gave him a standing ovation when he batted in the first inning. Mauer admitted it was a little hard to get comfortable when he stepped into the batter's box.

"I was a little nervous,'' Mauer said. "It was like an Opening Day for me.''

Recent Sports stories

Correction: Super Bowl advertisers story - May 2, 2009

Correction: Super Bowl advertisers story - In one version of a story Feb. 7 about Super Bowl commercials, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a commercial from Focus on the Family included Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow talking with his mother about how she was advised to end her pregnancy with him. They did not specifically discuss that aspect of their story in the commercial. More