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Morneau's home run drought deepens
- Article by: Joe Christensen , Star Tribune
- Updated: September 13, 2007 - 7:42 AM
Justin Morneau hit his 28th homer in July, but with season's end nearing, he has yet to reach No. 30.
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KANSAS CITY, MO. Twins first baseman Justin Morneau was on pace to hit 46 home runs this year when he connected for two No. 27 and No. 28 in Toronto on July 23.
Forty-seven games later, Morneau is stuck on 29.
After Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Royals, Morneau acknowledged that thoughts of No. 30 are weighing on him.
"With nobody on base, I might be trying for it a little too much," he said. "But when we get guys out there, the important thing is to get them in and have good at-bats. I don't think it's affected my at-bats with runners in scoring position or guys on base. But yeah, I'd say it's in my mind, obviously."
Morneau's home run production tailed off last year, too, as he hit his 30th on Aug. 9 and finished with 34.
Like last year, Morneau has overcome that power drought to remain the team's top RBI producer. He had 130 RBI last year and has 105 this year, including nine in the past eight games.
Morneau's one home run during this recent drought came Aug. 24. Since then, he's had 69 at-bats.
He saw just three pitches in his two at-bats Wednesday and made two weak outs, prompting manager Ron Gardenhire to pull him for pinch hitter Matthew LeCroy with the team trailing 6-1 in the seventh inning.
Gardenhire said he wanted to get LeCroy some at-bats, though he mentioned that Morneau has been battling a sore back.
"I feel good enough to play," Morneau said. "My back feels the same as it has all year. I just ice it every day so it doesn't get sore, and that's about it."
Mauer rests
The Twins are 52-45 when Joe Mauer is in the starting lineup, and 20-29 in his non-starts.
They won three in a row after he returned to the lineup Sunday, but Gardenhire rested his catcher Wednesday, with a day game following a night game.
"We have to be smart about the whole situation," Gardenhire said. "He does have a hamstring [injury]."
Reyes update
After getting a second opinion on his left elbow from Dr. Lewis Yocum, Dennys Reyes will continue trying to rehab the injury without surgery.
Reyes, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 22, will rejoin the team Friday, though the chances that he'll pitch again this season are slim.
Rincon to pitch in winter
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