No feud between these ex-teammates

Last update: March 4, 2008 - 7:24 PM

As rain washed out the Twins-Rays game on Tuesday, shortstop Jason Bartlett rushed over to the visitors clubhouse to talk to some of his former teammates.

"I said, 'It's weird seeing you guys over here,' " Bartlett said. "They said the same thing. I wish them all nothing but the best."

The Twins and Rays were rained out after four innings with the Twins leading 3-0.

Tuesday looked to be a good day for quotes, given the recent Delmon Young-Carl Crawford flap and that it was the Twins' first game against former teammates Bartlett and Matt Garza, who were traded to the Rays for a package of players that included Young and Brendan Harris.

But Young didn't make the trip to St. Petersburg. Crawford had the day off. No chance to continue their feud about Young's stint with the club.

The main event ended up being Bartlett vs. Twins righthander Boof Bonser.

Bartlett flied out to center in the first but singled to center in the third. When Twins catcher Mike Redmond reached second base in the fourth inning, Bartlett said to him, "Tell Boof thanks for the fastballs."

"He looked good today," Bartlett said of Bonser. "He has that ball that looks like it's going in the dirt, but it stays up, kind of like Joe [Mauer's] throws to second."

Bonser was asked, in jest, why he didn't throw at Bartlett.

"There's no reason to do that," Bonser said while laughing. "Look at how many [hits] he saved me during the year."

Garza chatted with Bonser in the dugout before the game.

Garza, penciled in at the Rays' No. 3 starter, once butted heads with the coaching staff in the Twins system over the number of changeups he was throwing. He said on Tuesday that his experience with the Twins was a good one.

"It will always be good memories," said Garza, who has given up two runs in 12/3 innings this spring. "Sometimes you look back and think that may have come out worse than I [intended], but things happen for a reason in this game."

What of Blackburn?

Bonser pitched three shutout innings, stranding two runners in the third. He has thrown five scoreless innings this spring and has shown no reason why he shouldn't have a spot in the rotation.

Rigthander Nick Blackburn, however, is in a battle royale for a rotation spot and needs all the innings he can get. The rainout limited him to one inning, but he left an impression on many observers.

Blackburn threw first-pitch strikes to all three hitters he faced -- two on breaking balls. He struck out Cliff Floyd on three pitches, then ended his short stint by striking out John Rodriguez.

"A lot of my focus this offseason was getting the control of all my pitches," Blackburn said. "It definitely helps me out and makes me a lot more comfortable."

Etc.

• Joe Nathan said he injured his foot Friday. He hasn't appeared in a game since but expects to return Thursday after a bullpen session Tuesday.

• Jesse Crain said his surgically repaired right shoulder felt good one day after tossing an inning in a B-game vs. Boston.

• Craig Monroe (strained leg muscle) ran the bases and took batting practice, keeping on schedule for a Thursday return.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III AND JOE CHRISTENSEN