The headline on our website said it all. "One big Twins victory: Morneau is back at first."
This was after the Twins got pounded 13-3 on Opening Night in Toronto. Now, they are 1-3 with three more to go at Yankee Stadium.
But on the injury front, specifically Morneau's concussion recovery front, they are 4-0. He has played in all four games. His swing looks like it's coming back.
He started 0-for-9 but hit two balls to the warning track in that stretch. And after getting his first hit -- a broken-bat cheapie in his final at-bat in Toronto -- Morneau went 2-for-4 with a double Monday.
Manager Ron Gardenhire also thought Morneau's timing looked good on the ball he popped up against Rafael Soriano in the eighth inning.
"The last game in Toronto, he hit some balls right on the screws," Gardenhire said. "He'll get his swing here and you'll start seeing some balls in the seats."
As a unit, the Twins have looked rusty and unsettled. But underneath it all is still a pretty good team.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka is settling in. He turned three double plays at second base Monday and delivered a big hit, with his two-out RBI liner to left-center.
Joe Mauer is 1-for-11. He's been the king of the 4-3, with four ground outs to second base, but he had a good at-bat Monday against Soriano, hitting the ball hard to left field for an out. Soriano has held opponents to a .185 batting average for his career as a reliever. He's nasty. Often moments like that, while fruitless at the time, are signs that better things are coming for the hitter.
