twins/mlb
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
Gardenhire sits Valencia, Casilla for series finale
Posted by: Phil Miller under Twins game coverage Updated: April 8, 2012 - 11:34 AM
BALTIMORE -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire shook up the bottom of his lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles.
Danny Valencia and Alexi Casilla are on the bench. Sean Burroughs is getting the start at third, and Luke Hughes is starting at second base.
Gardenhire typically likes to get his bench players involved early in the season. Maybe Burroughs would have gotten a start today no matter what, but Valencia had a rough game Saturday, going 0-for-4, grounding into two double plays and missing a key play down the third-base line.
Update: In his pregame media session, Gardenhire said he was determined to get Burroughs and Hughes some playing time. Asked about Valencia's defense, Gardenhire said:
“The backhand down the line was hit hard,” Gardenhire said. “The thing you have to understand is that he’s worked hard at it. But there’s times he gets lazy, and he gets flat-footed. You can’t take a pitch off.
“He has to be on his toes at third base. It’s kind of like taking a serve from Bjorn Borg. If your feet aren’t moving, you’ll never get to it.
“Sometimes, I don’t know what he’s thinking. He might lead off the next inning. For the most part in spring training, he was a little bit better. I still think he’s working his tail off. I like the kid. But it’s a process. There’s a mindset of it’s not just offense, there’s defense.”
HENDRIKS UPDATE
Also, Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks remains in the hospital with food poisoning and might have to stay another night, instead of taking the team flight back to Minnesota.
TWINS (0-2)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, SS
3. Joe Mauer, 1B
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Ryan Doumit, C
7. Sean Burroughs, 3B
8. Luke Hughes, 2B
9. Ben Revere, RF
Starting pitcher: RH Anthony Swarzak
ORIOLES (2-0)
1. Endy Chavez, LF
2. J.J. Hardy, SS
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Adam Jones, CF
5. Matt Wieters, C
6. Nick Johnson, DH
7. Wilson Betemit, 3B
8. Chris Davis, 1B
9. Robert Andino, 2B
Starting pitcher: RH Jason Hammel
Camden Yards. First pitch: 12:35 p.m. (Central). TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network
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| Chicago Cubs - LP: E. Jackson | 2 | FINAL |
| Pittsburgh - WP: V. Mazzaro | 4 |
| Baltimore - LP: K. Gausman | 6 | FINAL |
| Toronto - WP: B. Morrow | 12 |
| Cleveland - WP: Z. McAllister | 12 | FINAL |
| Boston - LP: R. Dempster | 3 |
| Minnesota - LP: J. Burton | 6 | FINAL |
| Detroit - WP: J. Benoit | 7 |
| LA Angels - WP: J. Blanton | 5 | FINAL |
| Kansas City - LP: E. Santana | 4 |
| Boston | 3 | FINAL(OT) |
| NY Rangers | 4 |
| Chicago | 0 | FINAL |
| Detroit | 2 |
| San Jose | 0 | FINAL |
| Los Angeles | 3 |
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- Twins call up Walters from Rochester
- Report: P.J. Walters promoted; start Saturday?
- For Twins, if results don't change, the roster will
- Twins-Detroit game recap
- Hartman: Mauer comfortable back behind the plate
- Colabello takes a long, strange trip to majors
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