Twins: No gain, and plenty of pain

After losing a game in which they touched Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay for five runs, the Twins now must deal with injuries to two infielders.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 26, 2007 - 11:06 PM

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TORONTO 8, TWINS 5

Up next: 7:10 p.m. tonight vs. Toronto • Metrodome • FSN, 1500-AM

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Twins manager Ron Gardenhire paced back and forth behind his desk as he talked with a handful of reporters Monday night.

"I'm still kind of flabbergasted by the whole event," he said.

Gardenhire wasn't flabbergasted because his team found ways to score runs off Toronto ace Roy Halladay but still lost to the Blue Jays 8-5 at the Metrodome.

Rather, he had just left the trainer's room, where Luis Castillo was icing a swollen left hand and Jeff Cirillo was having his right knee examined.

"It's not a good scenario for [tonight's] game," Gardenhire said.

Castillo might need X-rays today if the considerable swelling doesn't subside overnight. Cirillo, who started at first base, said he could play if needed, but Gardenhire might think twice after Cirillo committed an error Monday.

And the Twins are unsure when first baseman and reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau (bruised lung) will return to the lineup.

Yes, rookie righthander Kevin Slowey continued his baptism by giving up four earned runs over five innings. Yes, Matt Guerrier gave up a two-run homer to Matt Stairs in the eighth that proved to be the winning blow. And, yes, the Twins left the Dome muttering to themselves over losing a game in which Halladay, a former Cy Young Award winner, gave up five earned runs.

But Gardenhire left the Dome wondering who will be available tonight -- and beyond.

"We'll find a way to put a team out there tomorrow," Gardenhire said. "We'll see what we can find."

The Twins tried to bail out Slowey by scoring twice in the fourth to tie the score at 3-3. But Slowey gave the lead back in the fifth on a RBI single by Vernon Wells and a sacrifice fly by Alex Rios as Toronto took a 5-3 lead.

Castillo led another comeback in the fifth when he chopped a ball off the plate for an infield single and went to third when Jason Bartlett singled off Halladay's leg. Bartlett soon stole second.

With Joe Mauer at the plate, Halladay threw a wild pitch that rolled to the right of home plate. Castillo raced home and touched the plate with his left hand as Gregg Zaun's throw zipped by Halladay. Castillo and Bartlett both scored.

Halladay, however, stepped and pushed off on Castillo's hand during the play; there was a chunk of skin missing from where the spike landed. Castillo was in obvious pain but stayed in the game.

Stairs' homer and a sacrifice fly by Adam Lind gave Toronto a 8-5 lead. The Twins got a two-out single by Jason Tyner and a walk from Nick Punto in the ninth to start a late rally. Castillo was due up, but he needed to speak to Gardenhire because his hand was too swollen to grip the bat.

"I can't swing," Castillo said to Gardenhire. "Do you still want me to hit?"

Luis Rodriguez was hastily summoned to hit, and grounded out to end the game.

"I thought I'd be OK but there was more swelling," Castillo said. "I hope to be in the lineup [today]."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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