Here are three thoughts following the Twins' win on Tuesday.

1. DOUMIT STEPS UP: Ryan Doumit entered the game with no homers and batting .198. But hit lined a double in his second at-bat and homered in his third. Doumit admitted that his confidence has been shaky lately, so he really needed a couple solid hits. He also has to get used to sporadic playing time, as the Twins are committed to playing Oswaldo Arcia as much as they can, and that might mean at DH. The M & M boys will need their days there too. ``I've never had to deal with it in my career," Doumit said. ``What do you do at this point? I have to be prepared."

2. DOUBLE WHAMMY: Will Middlebrooks made a nice sliding catch in foul territory of Chris Parmelee's flare in the fifth, but it came at a price. Middlebrooks collided with catcher David Ross after making the play. Ross ended up leaving the game with a sore left quad. Middlebrooks had to leave with a sore right side. And his replacement, Pedro Ciriaco, butchered two balls in the eighth that fueled the Twins' four-run inning.

3. HICKS IN CROSSHAIRS?: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire did not like the way Aaron Hicks, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, flipped the ball to Brian Dozier after catching a fly ball in the eighth. And Gardy let Hicks have it after the inning. Hicks said he understood why the manager wasn't happy with him. Hicks didn't start on Tuesday and part of the reason might have been how he's gone after fly balls. But I wouldn't be surprised if Hicks is back in there Wednesday.