Twins: Rough inning sabotages Garza

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2007 - 10:23 PM

DETROIT - The Twins matched a team record Tuesday, when they were shut out for the 14th time this season.

It's become so commonplace, manager Ron Gardenhire was more concerned with his own starting pitcher than Detroit's after his team's 8-0 loss at Comerica Park.

Matt Garza pitched very well for five innings, but with Detroit holding a 1-0 lead in the sixth, the rookie came unglued.

He hit Placido Polanco to open the inning and let him reach second with an errant pickoff throw to first baseman Justin Morneau. Three of the next five batters got hits, prompting Gardenhire to turn to his bullpen, and things kept getting uglier.

"If you make a bad play, you've got to take a deep breath and focus on the next hitter," Gardenhire said. "You can't just keep carrying things with you. Screaming into your glove and all those things -- those don't bode well when you're on the mound, trying to control the baseball game."

Garza met with Gardenhire and got the message.

"I've always been an emotional guy," Garza said, "and I've got to learn how to keep that intensity under wraps a little bit. Not lose the fire, but kind of keep it from burning."

The Twins were also shut out 14 times in 2006, 1994, 1972 and 1964.

Tigers rookie Yorman Bazardo (2-1) held them to six hits in seven innings.

Hunter unplugged

Torii Hunter challenged teammates who have missed playing time and spoke about his contract wishes in a 22-minute interview Tuesday with Dan Barreiro on KFAN AM-1130.

Asked how the Twins can improve, Hunter said, "One thing for me, somebody needs to slap a couple people around and say, 'You got to play no matter what.'"

Asked if he specifically meant Joe Mauer, Hunter said, "No, I'm not talking about Mauer. I'm just saying it's different. It's a different breed. I don't know what's going on in the minor leagues, but it's different."

Hunter added, "If you don't play every day, and you're a good player, how can you help a team win?"

Hunter, 32, who turned down a three-year, $45 million offer last month, said he wants a five- or six-year deal.

Asked if he thinks the Twins will make him a five-year offer, he said, "I want them to. I just can't see it. If it happens, it's going to shock me just like everybody else."

Etc.

• Boof Bonser will start Thursday instead of Scott Baker, whose right hand is still swollen from the line drive that hit him Saturday. Baker could pitch in relief but won't start again this season.

• Jason Bartlett said he will have an MRI exam on his neck and right shoulder Monday after playing through the injuries since spring training. He plans to get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., before deciding whether to have offseason surgery.

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com