Red Sox will be first foe at Target

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 4, 2009 - 1:01 AM

You might want to Target April 12 on your calendar -- and get ready for Red Sox Nation.

The Associated Press obtained a draft of next year's schedule that has the Twins playing Boston on April 12 in the Target Field opener. The schedule was provided by an anonymous baseball official to the AP; the schedule is supposed to be finalized later this year.

Twins President Dave St. Peter wouldn't comment on who the opponent will be in the team's return to outdoor baseball.

"I have said throughout this process that we would likely open on the week of April 12," St. Peter said.

The Twins have faced Boston in the season opener just once, in 1995 at Fenway Park.

St. Peter did say the ballpark is a few weeks ahead of schedule. The large cranes have been removed from inside the stadium, seats are being installed and the drainage system is being put in.

Duensing returns

Lefthander Brian Duensing is back with the Twins.

"We'll see if we can break him in slowly and let him get going," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

That didn't prove to be the case. Duensing entered in the fourth inning Friday after Kevin Slowey lasted only three innings for the second consecutive start. Duensing lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up only one hit, a solo homer by Gerald Laird.

Counting his time on the plane leaving spring training, Duensing was around only nine days at the start of the season. He appeared in one game, giving up two runs over three innings to the White Sox on April 10, before returning to the minors. Then he scuffled at Class AAA Rochester.

"At first, I didn't think it was that big of a deal [after leaving], but I was disappointed and I wanted to go out and do well, and the harder I tried, the worse I got," he said. "Nothing seemed to be working. I didn't hit a spot to save my life. Everything was up in the zone. I gave up a lot of runs and didn't give the team a chance to win, and that was disappointing.

"Once I figured out some things, I started to turn around."

Duensing was 4-6 with a 4.66 ERA at Rochester over 13 starts but gave up one run over his eight innings in his last start.

Injury updates

Infielder Nick Punto (lower back) and first baseman Justin Morneau (left groin muscle) were back in the lineup on Friday after leaving Wednesday's game at Kansas City.

Catcher Mike Redmond, who was hit on the right forearm by a foul tip, wasn't available. "Red Dog is stiff," Gardenhire said. "He's not really going to do too much too soon."

Gardenhire expected Redmond to be available before the end of the series.

Looking at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh infielder Freddy Sanchez and righthanded relievers Matt Capps and John Grabow are three players the Twins have been interested in for several weeks, if not months. FOX Sports reported Friday that the Twins have engaged the Pirates in talks about all three players. Indications are that nothing is imminent -- but the Twins are expected to keep in touch.

Capps or Grabow could strengthen the Twins bullpen. It might take a lot to get Sanchez, who won the National League batting title in 2006 with a .344 average.

Draft picks sign

The Twins have signed 33rd-round pick Nick Freitas, an outfielder from Southern Utah, and 38th-round pick Pete Kennelly, a righthander from Fordham. The Twins have signed 16 of their 51 picks.

They plan to meet with the advisor for first-round pick Kyle Gibson sometime next week.

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