WASHINGTON — It's just an exhibition game, and one in which the starters are expected to play only five innings or less. But Paul Molitor wants it played.
It's been raining all morning in the District of Columbia, but has slowed to just a light rain in the past hour. The forecast calls for a dry afternoon, but the rain has already lingered longer than expected. Given how little is at stake, wouldn't the Twins just rather board their bus and head to their Baltimore hotel?
"If there's a reasonable chance to get started, I would still like to play," Molitor said. "I'd rather have Ricky [Nolasco, today's starting pitcher] play in a game rather than a side [workout]. If you don't play today, you don't play tomorrow, it's not the end of the world, but if possible, I would like to have a chance today."
Nolasco won't pitch to hitters again until next Saturday in Kansas City, so today's game is especially meaningful to him. And Molitor wants Ryan Pressly, Fernando Abad and Trevor May to each get an inning of work, since nobody will pitch tomorrow ahead of next Monday's opener.
And there are a bunch of minor leaguers along this weekend who would like a chance to play in a major-league stadium before heading back to Fort Myers tonight. "It's always good for getting your juices flowing for the season," said Darin Mastroianni, who has had a strong spring and put himself in position to be recalled to Minnesota if an injury occurs. "Playing in a park like this, it makes you feel like we're ready to go."
The Twins have changed catchers for today's game, with John Ryan Murphy getting the start, and Joe Mauer will be the designated hitter while Byung Ho Park plays first base. Here are the lineups for today's scheduled 11 a.m. (Central time) spring finale:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
