Gomez has good day at the plate, on base

Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

Carlos Gomez

Last update: March 8, 2008 - 12:21 AM

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Three players the Twins obtained for Johan Santana seemed to hit full stride Friday, with the electrifying Carlos Gomez leading the way.

Gomez went 2-for-5 with a run-scoring triple, a stolen base and two runs scored in the Twins' 4-0 split-squad victory over the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.

Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey each added two scoreless innings of relief. Deolis Guerra, also acquired in that trade, made the trip to Dunedin but did not pitch.

Humber has turned in three scoreless appearances since giving up four runs to Concordia (St. Paul) on Feb. 26.

"It's natural to try to impress when you're with a new organization," Humber said. "But now, everybody's doing a good job of staying within themselves.

"Especially Carlos. When he goes out and just lets himself be the athlete he can be, that's a good example for us."

Oh yes, Gomez is letting it fly -- with his play, and with his quotes.

Asked Friday about being in the pitchers' heads, he said: "That's good. When the pitcher thinks only about the leadoff hitter, he doesn't think about the other guys.

"Like [Justin] Morneau -- probably this year, he has a better year. Because [the pitcher] thinks more Gomez, Gomez -- first base.

"They're scared when I am on the base. He has to be quicker [to home plate], and he throws more fastballs to the catcher.

"[Joe] Mauer probably hits second in the lineup. He's got good patience, and he kills this league this year."

Gomez, who is competing with Denard Span and Jason Pridie for the starting center field job, is 4-for-19 (.222) with three stolen bases this spring.

Lamb injured

Third baseman Mike Lamb has a sore left hip that will sideline him a couple of days.

Lamb has bruised the hip in recent days diving for ground balls but aggravated it on Friday as he tried to dig hard out of the batter's box in the sixth inning of the split-squad game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers. He favored the hip as he walked to the dugout and was replaced by Felix Molina the next inning.

Lamb was 2-for-3 with a run scored vs. Boston and is batting .462 this spring.

Monroe goes deep

Craig Monroe followed Morneau's two-run homer in the first with a solo shot to left in the Twins' 7-2 victory over the Red Sox. Monroe is 2-for-4 with three RBI since missing a few games because of a strained muscle near his calf.

The good results are welcomed by Monroe, who said he was too pull-conscious last year.

"I don't really want to overanalyze,'' he said. "I just know I'm getting back to some of the things I know I'm capable of doing. I'm going to continue to work on them throughout the spring, and hopefully once the season starts they'll get to see what I do.''

Etc.

• Righthander Matt Guerrier, after missing four days this week to tend to a family medical issue, gave up three hits in the fifth against Boston but got out of the inning without a run scored. He was grazed on the left heel by a line drive but remained in the game.

• Righty Jesse Crain, trying to get his slider up to his standards, pitched a scoreless seventh against the Red Sox.

JOE CHRISTENSEN AND LA VELLE E. NEAL III