New alignment: Escobar at third, Nunez at short as Twins meet Orioles

Twins manager Paul Molitor made Eduardo Escobar's utility status official by starting him Thursday night at third base, a position he hasn't manned in a year.

July 28, 2016 at 10:16PM
Minnesota Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar, left, makes the throw to first to turn a double play after forcing out New York Yankees' Chase Headley (12) at second base during the third inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis, Thursday, June 16, 2016. The Yankees' Ike Davis hit into the play. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
Minnesota Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar, left, makes the throw to first to turn a double play after forcing out New York Yankees' Chase Headley (12) at second base during the third inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis, Thursday, June 16, 2016. The Yankees' Ike Davis hit into the play. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt) (Brian Stensaas — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Eduardo Nunez has received plenty of accolades for his breakout season this year, most particularly as the Twins' representative to the All-Star Game. He got another one on Thursday when manager Paul Molitor posted his lineup for tonight's makeup game with the Orioles.

Nunez is the shortstop.

That may not seem like news, since Nunez has played the position, his preferred position, 50 times this season. But here's what is different: Eduardo Escobar is in the lineup, too. Until tonight, and as recently as July 17, when both are in the lineup, Escobar has been the shortstop and Nunez has shifted to third base.

"This is something I considered over the All-Star break," Molitor said of his decision to make Escobar his primary utility infielder, and allow Nunez to settle in at just one position for the first time since joining the Twins. "Escobar is kind of the utility guy now, so he's got to play around the infield. And Nunez deserves" to be able to focus on just one spot for now.

Escobar will play second base, too, Molitor said. He hasn't played third base in a year, since July 25, 2015, and his five games at the position last year all came with Danny Santana at short. But Escobar has been taking ground balls all over the infield in the past week, Molitor said.

It's a sign of respect for the season that Nunez has had, despite going just 9-for-52 (.137) since the All-Star break. He's batting .300, leads the AL in stolen bases with 26, and is seventh in the league in singles, with 82. It's also a night off for Miguel Sano, who has only two hits and eight strikeouts in his last three games.

Tonight's game is a makeup of the May 9 rainout, and one last chance to avoid being swept by Baltimore in the season series. The Twins opened 2016 with three straight losses at Camden Yards, and dropped both games at Target Field in May, losing 5-3 and 9-2.

Here are the lineups for tonight's 6:10 p.m. game:

ORIOLES

Jones CF

Kim LF

Machado 3B

Davis 1B

Trumbo RF

Schoop 2b

Alvarez DH

Hardy SS

Joseph C

Jimenez RHP

TWINS

Nunez SS

Grossman DH

Mauer 1B

Dozier 2B

Kepler RF

Rosario LF

Escobar 3B

Centeno C

Buxton CF

Gibson RHP

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

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Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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