Bats are hot in KC, not in St. Petersburg

It's hard for a team to raise its batting average five points in three games this late in the season, but the Twins' team average went from .275 to .280 after batting .411 over the past three games.

What's remarkable is they they have done this without Justin Morneau, without Denard Span and Orlando Hudson for two of the game and without Joe Mauer for one of the games,

It's fair to point out that the Twins beat up the Orioles in two of these games, but Zack Greinke started on Monday. ZACK GREINKE.

Some quick hits:

The Twins jumped from seventh to fifth in baseball in runs scored.

According to MLB.TV, Danny Valencia is the first player ever to hit a grand slam for the first homer of his career off a defending Cy Young winner.

Also, Joe Mauer is the third catcher ever to go 5-for-5 in a game and have at least seven RBI in the same game.

``We taught him everything he knows," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of their former first round pick.

Twins reliever Matt Guerrier pretended to reluctantly pick up his phone after the game.

``Aaaaarrrgh! I guess I'll call Garza," Guerrier said.

Mike Herman of the Twins' baseball communications department checked in this morning with the following:

Mauer's night last night was actually SIGNIFICANTLY more rare than Garza's.....