ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Just about anyone who has ever traveled can relate to the Twins' trip to Tampa Bay yesterday. When their game with the Blue Jays ended, the Twins received word that their charter plane had not arrived yet in Canada, having been grounded in Cincinnati for repairs. The Twins took their time packing up, but finally got to Pearson Airport around 7 p.m. But still no plane.
The Twins went through customs, then had to wait in the public terminal, where several signed autographs for travelers surprised to see professional athletes sitting around. "You just entertain yourself as best as you possibly can," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "There was a duty-free store open, and Friday's was open, and we got to know both."
Finally, after a three-hour wait, their charter arrived and the Twins took off on the 2 1/2-hour flight to Florida. They checked in to their hotel after 1 a.m., about five hours behind schedule.
Finally here, they'll face Roberto Hernandez tonight, the former Fausto Carmona, who owns a 5-9 record and 5.05 ERA against the Twins. Oswaldo Arcia is back in the lineup after sitting out a game with a bruised finger; he was healthy enough to play Sunday, Gardenhire said, but the injury was a good excuse to give him a day off.
One other note: P.J. Walters cleared waivers on Monday without being claimed, and he has accepted an assignment to Rochester, where he will report tomorrow. The Red Wings will make a roster move to open a space for him on Tuesday; Walters' vacant spot on the Twins' 40-man roster will not be filled for the moment.
Here are tonight's lineups:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Mauer C
Doumit DH
Morneau 1B
Plouffe 3B
Arcia LF
Parmelee RF
Hicks CF
Florimon SS
