Twins' woes run beyond a 'little funk'

The Twins announced after Tuesday's loss to Cleveland that first baseman Justin Morneau has recovered from inflammation in his left wrist and will be in the lineup Wednesday in Detroit.

After getting shut out 5-0 by Derek Lowe and the Indians, it was easily their best news of the day as they headed out for an eight-game, three-city road trip.

"Ultimately we still have to go out there and play, whether [Morneau is] in the lineup or not," Twins catcher Joe Mauer said. "Obviously he makes our team better. He looked good taking hacks the last few days, and we're excited about getting him back on the field."

It could have been better. Morneau could have come back cloned, or as a third baseman. Wonder what kind of breaking ball he has?

The Twins have more holes than any single player can fill, and appear headed toward topping last season's 99-loss disaster. No one in the clubhouse wants to consider that possibility. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after the game that the bench remained spirited into the late innings as they tried to figure out ways to hit Lowe.

"If you start playing better baseball," Gardenhire said, "breaks start going your way."

Getting this club to play better baseball might be asking a lot.

Righthander Jason Marquis was knocked out of Tuesday's game after five innings. Cleveland hit three home runs off him in the fifth, with boos raining down from the announced Target Field crowd of 35,732 after Carlos Santana hit the third one.

That gave Twins starters a 7-21 record and a baseball-worst 6.38 ERA.

Lowe, meanwhile, got 18 groundball outs as Cleveland swept the two-game series. Twins hitters, who entered the game third in the American League with 34 double plays, hit into four more Tuesday.

And there's Mauer, who was moved to the No. 2 spot in the batting order Tuesday in an attempt by Gardenhire to shake things up.

Mauer grounded out three times and walked once. He was booed after grounding out to first to end the sixth.

There's been plenty of chatter recently about the defensive alignments against Mauer. That's not the problem. He's not squaring up balls right now.

"Just in a little funk and just trying to get out of it," said Mauer, who is batting .186 this month.

He was asked if he was pleased with his timing.

"No, I think that can be pretty obvious," he said. "I'm not doing too good at the plate. Tomorrow is a new day and try to get back tomorrow."

Mauer will have help on Wednesday when Morneau returns to the lineup -- and to first base.

The bad news: It's not nearly enough.

"We've had some tough luck the last couple weeks," Mauer said, "but you have to try to stay positive or this game will keep beating you down."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com