Everett hit in hand by foul ball

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: August 18, 2008 - 11:42 PM

Twins shortstop Adam Everett left Monday's game after being hit on the right hand by a foul ball from Nick Punto while sitting in the dugout.

X-rays showed no broken bones, and Everett was diagnosed with a deep bruise. He said he didn't see the ball, which was headed for his chest before he reached up his hand at the last second.

"At first I thought it was broken because it puffed up immediately, and my hand was just throbbing," Everett said.

But Everett said he does not expect to go back on the disabled list.

"It'll be sore for a couple days, but it'll be fine," he said.

Others make progress

Alexi Casilla went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in the first game of his rehab assignment for Class A Beloit.

Fellow injured infielder Matt Tolbert traveled to Class AA New Britain, where he will begin a rehab assignment tonight.

The Twins had planned to have Tolbert start with their Gulf Coast League affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., but they sent him away to avoid Tropical Storm Fay.

Casilla, who has been out since July 28 because of a strained right thumb, is expected to return to second base Thursday. Tolbert had surgery on his left thumb in late May, so his tune-up could last several games. "He hasn't played in [three] months," General Manager Bill Smith said. "Let's see how he does."

Ballpark tour

Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer toured the Twins' new ballpark site for the first time since they filmed their commercial there last fall.

They were joined by Joe Nathan, Denard Span and Nick Punto on a tour guided by Smith and Twins President Dave St. Peter.

Someone noted when the time hit 1 p.m., about when the first pitch would be thrown for an afternoon game in 2010.

"It was warm," Morneau said. "The wind was blowing out to left -- that was good. It made me wish [the ballpark] was done already. The clubhouse is bigger. The batting cages are right there. It's a baseball facility."

Gomez gets a break

Carlos Gomez, who was 3-for-27 with nine strikeouts since Aug. 5, was not in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game with the Twins facing Oakland All-Star Justin Duchscherer.

"I'm trying to get Gomez in a situation where he can get a little confidence going, and I don't think this is the right guy to do it against," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Etc.

• A's third baseman Jack Hannahan had two bus loads of fans sitting behind the Oakland dugout. Hannahan was a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall when Mauer was a freshman. They didn't play together but are good friends.

• Twins prospect Brian Duensing gave up one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for Team USA on Saturday, getting the victory against Canada in Olympic pool play. In two appearances in Beijing, he faced 15 batters, giving up one hit and no walks with five strikeouts.

• Randy Ruiz got his second consecutive start at designated hitter, even with the Twins facing a righthander in Duchscherer.

Staff writer La Velle E. Neal III contributed to this report.