Twins keep riding hot streak, but a key part comes up lame

An injury to Joe Mauer tarnished the team's fourth victory in a row.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: August 28, 2007 - 12:10 AM

BALTIMORE After beating the Orioles 8-1 on Saturday, the Twins have a chance to sweep the four-game series today and head into a big series in Cleveland with considerable momentum.

The question is: Will they have Joe Mauer around to help them become relevant again in the playoff race?

Mauer pulled his left hamstring while running the bases in the eighth inning, which could shelve him for several days.

Mauer walked very gingerly from the trainer's room to the shower after the game and wasn't immediately available for comment. But the Twins will call up catcher Chris Heintz from Class AAA Rochester in time for today's game.

If Mauer needs only a few days to recover, the Twins will likely put lefthander Dennys Reyes on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore shoulder. If it's more serious, Mauer could land on the DL.

Either way, the Twins need an extra catcher because No. 1 reserve Mike Redmond is hampered by a left middle finger that was dislocated earlier in the season.

"Day to day with his hamstring," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll know more [today] how he's doing. We'll definitely get a catcher in here. There's going to be a roster move. I just don't know what it's going to be."

Torii Hunter was 2-for-5 with four RBI and ran his hitting streak to 12 games when he broke the game open in the sixth with a three-run homer. Jason Bartlett was 4-for-4. And Matt Garza improved to 3-4 despite some shaky pitching over five innings.

The question on the minds of Twins Nation: Is this team, which has won four in a row, in or out of the playoff picture?

The Twins are out of it right now, a result of being 5½ games out of first place this late in the season. But they could change things over the next few days with this week's big series in Cleveland approaching.

Mauer is key to the Twins' revival hopes, but he limped between second and third while advancing on Hunter's single in the eighth. Mauer missed a month earlier this season because of a strained left quad.

"We need him," Hunter said. "We don't need Joe out. We're trying to catch the Cleveland Indians. We missed him once already. We can't miss him twice."

Before the Twins could eye a big finish this weekend, they had to wait out a 1 hour, 51 minute rain delay to win a game involving two prospects who have great arms but are still learning to pitch.

Baltimore righthander Radhames Liz was called up from Class AA Bowie to make his major league debut. His power was evident Saturday. He opened the game by striking out Bartlett, and he lit up the overamped radar gun at Camden Yards, with pitches clocked as high as 100 miles an hour.

Liz was able to hold the Twins to two hits through five innings, but the Twins still had a 2-1 lead.

Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher led off the third with walks. Nick Punto sacrificed the runners to second and third. Jason Tyner grounded out to first. Bartlett, batting .275 with runners in scoring position and two outs, came through with a solid single to left to score two runs and give the Twins an early lead.

Garza stayed out of enough trouble to keep the game at 2-1 until Hunter's big blast in the sixth. Hunter and Redmond drove in runs in the eighth, making it 8-1.

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