Punto DL-bound as bench thins

The Twins placed Nick Punto on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained left hamstring and promoted infielder Alexi Casilla from Class AAA Rochester to fill the roster spot.

An early cut during spring training, Casilla batted .184 for Rochester in April but was batting .350 in May, leaving him at .219 overall.

"We need a middle [infielder] with some speed," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We'll use [Casilla] off the bench, pinch running, however we deem necessary to get him in the ballgames and go from there until we get healthy around here."

Besides Punto, second baseman Brendan Harris also has a right hamstring injury, suffered Friday night. Harris hoped to return to the lineup today, but Gardenhire said that was "iffy."

Punto tested his leg during batting practice and realized the muscle was strained.

"I think Gardy knows my personality, and I think he saw it in my face that it's probably better off just putting me on the DL," Punto said. "And he's probably right."

Punto, 30, said he injured himself early in Wednesday's game at Chicago. The start that night was delayed almost two hours by rain, and Punto, who finished with a career-high five RBI, legged out a two-run triple at about 11:15 p.m.

The next day, Punto knew he had a troublesome injury on his hands.

"I just tried to be really optimistic," he said. "That was probably wishful thinking."

Punto, who is batting .265, said he is confident he will be ready to return from the DL the first day he's eligible, May 23.

Liriano improves

Asked if lefthander Francisco Liriano was a candidate for a late-inning relief role, especially with Pat Neshek injured, Gardenhire said: "He's got to throw strikes out of the pen, and that was his issue. I don't know if his arm is going to be resilient to do that."

Liriano then gave up two runs on five hits and only two walks in six innings for Rochester against Buffalo on Saturday night. He struck out five and did not get a decision in the Red Wings' 3-2 victory. He threw 91 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Etc.

• Twins catcher Joe Mauer took over the American League batting lead Thursday, but he went 0-for-3 with a walk Saturday, dropping to .333.

• Gardenhire said Scott Baker (strained right groin) would likely throw a bullpen session by the middle of next week and report to Fort Myers, Fla., to pitch at extended spring training before he is eligible to come off the DL on May 19.

• Former Twins outfielder Lew Ford, who signed with the Hanshin Tigers in the Japanese Central League, was demoted to the minor leagues on May 2. The official term in Japan is called "dropped for readjustment."

• Hitless in his past 15 at-bats, Jason Kubel has lowered his average to .222.