Postgame: Fingernails, fastballs and frustration from the Twins

A handful of extras from a Saturday matinee at Target Field:

Phil Hughes didn't sound too concerned about the split fingernail on his right index finger, but it bothered him for a few weeks last year, too. And he's already taking precautions to make sure this doesn't become a problem.

"It's just kind of a maintenance thing. I have to keep and eye on it and make sure it grows out," Hughes said. "I've already talked to [pitching coach Neil Allen] — I'm going to push my [bullpen session] back a day, with the extra day off in Seattle. Just kind of monitor my throwing, make sure it doesn't get worse or start to blister."

The problem will disappear once the nail grows, but Hughes has to pitch in the meantime. The best solution? "I need stuff that makes your nails grow faster," he joked.

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Manager Paul Molitor wishes his leadoff hitter was hitting better than .195, wishes he would draw more walks — or his first one, actually — and wishes he would turn into the offensive engine that he was last season. But he's not growing impatient with Danny Santana, he said.

"He can be a little hot and cold. I know he's a guy who wants to try to find a way to improve his skills as a leadoff hitter, taking pitches," Molitor said after Santana struck out three times in an 0-for-4 day. "So far he hasn't been able to find ways to increase his walk total, we all know that. But he's a guy who can bounce back and get four hits the next day after a tough day."

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Danny Salazar, restored to the Indians' rotation after two weeks in the minor leagues, allowed two hits in an inning only once in his six-inning stint Saturday. But he had some help from the Twins, too, Molitor said.

"Young hitters, when a guy's throwing hard, will try to match how hard he's throwing with how hard you're swinging, and it usually doesn't work out too well," the manager said. "I just think we turned some counts around by chasing balls a little bit out of the zone. Instead of hitting 3-1, we're hitting 2-2. Instead of hitting 2-0, we're hitting 1-1. But he took advantage of our aggressiveness."

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