As Vargas hustled home, Escobar rounded second base and slowed up halfway to third, drawing the attention of third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Rather than let the throw from Michael Brantley go through for what appeared to be a close play at the plate, Chisenhall chose the more sure out, cut off the throw, and caught Escobar in a rundown for the third out. The Twins were happy to make that trade, Molitor said, because it ensured that Vargas' run would score.
Escobar filled in for Plouffe on Saturday; today, he's replacing Vargas, indirectly. Escobar will be in left field, with Rosario moving to right field, and Torii Hunter serving as the DH. At least that's the plan — but so is having Plouffe in the lineup. We'll see.
Here are today's (tentative) lineups, as the Twins try to create their second five-game winning streak of the month. They're wearing pink t-shirts and using pink bats in honor of Mother's Day, by the way.