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Home | Sports | Twins

Cuddyer gives injured finger a thumbs up since injection

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 19, 2009 - 7:34 AM

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Michael Cuddyer has added 15 points to his batting average in three games since having a cortisone injection in his right index finger.

The finger swelled during the weekend series in Chicago, the second time this month it has happened. He returned to the Twin Cities on Sunday to get the shot but had no idea what would happen. He missed four games the first time it swelled, and there were concerns he would have to be placed on the disabled list.

"I was a little nervous," Cuddyer said. "I didn't know if it was going to go away. I didn't know if it was going to continue or swell up."

The shot worked immediately. Cuddyer said he could have played Monday if there had been a game. On Tuesday, he returned to the lineup looking as if he had fresh hands.

He doubled Tuesday, tripled Wednesday and hit a homer and triple in a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday. His batting average went from .262 to .277.

"I still don't know why [it happened]," he said of the finger, "but I think it's on the right track."

Cold sidelines Mauer

Twins catcher Joe Mauer continues to battle a cold, and manager Ron Gardenhire felt that Mauer's bat looked slow Wednesday. So Gardenhire held him out of Thursday's lineup.

"Just listening to him [Wednesday], coughing in the game," Gardenhire said. "We tried to play through it for I don't know how many days."

Mike Redmond started behind the plate Thursday while Mauer was available as a pinch hitter.

"As bad as you want to put [Mauer] out there, it was time," Gardenhire said.

Hicks sent to Beloit

The Twins assigned outfielder Aaron Hicks, their first-round pick in the 2008 draft, to Class A Beloit.

Hicks batted .318 with four homers and 27 RBI for the Twins Gulf Coast League rookie team last year, but the club had Hicks begin this year at extended spring training at its year-round facility in Fort Myers, Fla.

According Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues, Hicks, primarily a center fielder, has been working in left and right field so he can be versatile. "His speed and throwing, of course, are pretty good," Rantz said.

Extended spring training games are not official, but Hicks hit .338 in those games.

Lost in the Dome

Pittsburgh left fielder Nyjer Morgan lost a ball in the roof in each game of the series.

He lost one Tuesday that fell for a hit. He lost one Wednesday that Andrew McCutchen had to charge over from center to catch.

In the eighth inning Thursday, Cuddyer sent a drive to left-center. Morgan chased after it but lost the ball. He held out his arms for help as it fell in behind him for a triple.

Morgan also was charged with an error in the fifth when Nick Punto hit a popup for a double and took third when Morgan dropped the ball after picking it up.

"I'm sure Morgan wants to get out of this building," Gardenhire said.

Etc.

• Twins outfielder Denard Span said he feels better after taking medication for dizziness but added, "But I'm not all the way there. Yet."

• Infielder Brendan Harris is batting .333 over his past 22 games.

• First baseman Justin Morneau on Thursday played in his 800th career game.

• In addition to their search for bullpen help, the Twins also might look for a veteran position player to come off the bench.

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