Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Monday, July 10, 2017

 No comeback this time: Orioles overpower Twins 11-5. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 1  Souhan: Fans haven't responded to these Twins like they did in 2001. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 2  Zack Granite makes fans, Twins take notice of him right away. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3  Miguel Sano has a simple goal at Home Derby: win. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 4  Twins prospect Nick Gordon helps U.S. team to victory in Futures Game. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 5  Twins, Wolves try going old with Bartolo Colon, Jamal Crawford ple goal at Derby: win. Star Tribune (Rand) p. 6  Twins defense is looking a little sloppy these days, other notes. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 6  Twins hitting James Rowson has three connections in home run derby. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7  Nick Gordon reunites with youth teammates at All-Star Futures Game. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8  Twins, ‘might not do much’ at the trade deadline, Molitor says. Pioneer Press (Graff) p. 9  Brian Murphy: Backpedaling Twins need to set sale for the future. Pioneer Press (Murphy) p.10  Sano to slug in 1st Derby (7 CT on ESPN). MLB (Bollinger) p. 11  World of talent wows Miami in Futures Game. MLB (Kramer & Macklin) p. 12  Twins' momentum halted after early rally. MLB (Bollinger & Jackson) p. 12  Sunday's best: Garver hits three homers in win for Rochester. MLB (Boor) p. 13  Berrios takes on Astros in second-half opener. MLB (Jackson) p. 13  Twins ‘not enamored’ with trade market for rental players, will target value for 2018 and beyond. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 14  Twins GM Thad Levine suggests MLB trade deadline can’t be a popularity contest. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 15  Twins end first half with home loss, series split against Orioles. Associated Press p. 15  Bartolo Colon is with the Twins and the Mets aren’t happy at all. SB Nation (Bell) p. 17

No comeback this time: Orioles overpower Twins 11-5 La Velle E. Neal lll | Star Tribune | July 10, 2017

The Twins should be pleased that they finished with a winning homestand, only their second of the year and first since their season-opening three-game sweep of Kansas City.

But they aren’t proud of their last two games against a Baltimore team with the worst ERA in the . That included Sunday’s 11-5 defeat as Kyle Gibson fell apart — twice in one game — and the offense stopped being a threat after the second inning.

The Twins went 4-3 at Target Field this past week but failed to enter the All-Star break with any momentum. Perhaps the break comes at the right time for a team that has completed a stretch of 21 games in 20 days and will visit the AL’s best team, the , once the break is over.

“Our record, with the last couple of losses, is a little disappointing of a way to go into the break,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “I think there were times where we could have spurted a little bit, take advantage of momentum and some things we were doing pretty well.

“That being said, if you look back at the beginning — to be where we are — that would be encouraging.”

At 45-43, the Twins reach the All-Star break a competitive, yet flawed, team with a young core that has upside. It was all on display at Target Field.

Gibson was once projected to be a stalwart in the rotation, but he finds himself on the back end of the starting five because of games like Sunday. He walked the first batter of the game, Seth Smith, on four pitches. Three batters later, Adam Jones belted a three-run homer estimated at 444 feet, giving Baltimore a 3-0 lead.

The Orioles pushed the score to 5-0 in the second when Caleb Joseph, at the end of a 12-pitch at bat, an RBI double and then scored on Smith’s single.

“Against teams like that, who are swinging the bat well and have a lot of good hitters,” Gibson said, “you have to locate a little better in the zone.”

Orioles righthander Ubaldo Jimenez loaded the bases in the second with a hit batter and two walks. Brian Dozier walked to force in a run, Robbie Grossman hit a two-run single and Max Kepler hit a RBI double to right.

The Twins were within 5-4, and it looked like they had the Orioles right where they wanted them, after rallying from six-run and five-run deficits to beat them earlier this season. But Jimenez stopped walking or hitting Twins batters. He ended up pitching five innings, giving up four runs, four hits and four walks.

Gibson posted scoreless innings in the third and fourth, but he gave up another home run to Jones in the fifth then a single to Mark Trumbo before he was pulled. In four-plus innings, Gibson was charged with seven earned runs. Baltimore scored four runs in the fifth to take a 9-4 lead before adding two in the eighth.

“We have been back and forth on Kyle, good days, bad days,” Molitor said. “I thought the leadoff walks really hurt him.”

Most Twins players and coaches scattered after the game for four days off before they reconvene in Texas on Friday. Molitor hoped they take their mind off the game while away — but regain their focus to take on an Astros team that demolished the Twins in three games at Target Field in May and beat Toronto 19-1 on Sunday for their 60th victory of the season.

The Twins gave up at least 10 runs for the 12th time in 88 games.

“We all know we have a tough opponent right out of the gate,” Molitor said. “They kind of put an exclamation point on their first half [Sunday]. I saw they missed an extra point or something.”

Souhan: Fans haven't responded to these Twins like they did in 2001 Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | July 10, 2017

The 2001 Twins followed eight consecutive losing seasons in one of baseball’s worst ballparks with an 85-victory season in which they did not make the playoffs. They became one of the most beloved teams in franchise history.

The 2017 Twins are following six mostly poor seasons in one of baseball’s best ballparks with a season that could produce 80-some victories and, perhaps, a playoff berth. Their 11-5 loss to Baltimore on Sunday completed a seven-game homestand in which they drew 30,000 fans just once.

Which is strange, if you compare the teams.

Both filled the roster with talented young position players. Both sent three players to the All-Star Game.

Both relied on an ace — Brad Radke then, Ervin Santana now — who relied more on savvy than stuff. Both featured an Everyman closer — Eddie Guardado took over the job in the second half of the ’01 season; Brandon Kintzler has become an All-Star in this one.

Both made dramatic improvements in the field over their predecessors. Torii Hunter in 2001 emerged as a brilliant center fielder but he has nothing on this year’s Byron Buxton with the glove.

In fact, the 2017 Twins may be more impressive in a few ways. Miguel Sano is a more impactful player and hits the ball farther than anyone on the 2001 squad. Santana has a better ERA than any of the 2001 starters. Target Field is far superior to the Dome.

So why was the 2001 team so much more popular?

There are a number of factors at work here.

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In the late ’90s, the Twins were not hated for their ineptitude. They were ignored. They were a low-revenue team playing in a lousy park. When they were bad, Minnesotans spent summer nights outdoors. Fans were not invested emotionally or financially in the Dome.

The Twins’ collapse this decade followed 10 years of competitiveness and the construction of a publicly funded ballpark. Fans expected the latter to ensure continuation of the former. They felt they were owed victories, as taxpayers.

The 2001 team was such an upstart that nobody on the roster was making much money. They weren’t just young; they were inexpensive. You could imagine them bunking together.

The 2017 team features Joe Mauer, who is making $23 million to be a below-average first baseman, and Phil Hughes and Glen Perkins, who will make almost $20 million combined this year to do little.

Marketing rarely works in sports, where the scoreboard and standings tell all, but in 2001 the Twins launched their “Get To Know ’Em” campaign. It worked because the Twins won early and because fans wanted to know more about an anonymous group.

That campaign wouldn’t work for the 2017 Twins. We have been writing about Sano and Buxton for years. Santana is in his third year here. Essentially the same group of players contributed to the Twins’ single-season resurgence in 2015.

There is a language barrier to consider. The 2001 Twins were a debate team with bats. Hunter, Doug Mientkiewicz, Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Jacque Jones and A.J. Pierzynski spoke eloquently about reviving the franchise.

The 2017 Twins’ best player is Sano, who is likeable but speaks English as a second language. This is not a criticism. He speaks far better English than I speak Spanish. But this is not a team that writes its own stories.

The 2001 Twins went 47-34 at home. The 2017 Twins are 20-28 at home, and there have been plenty of good seats available all season.

There is a difference in media access. I used to spend hours in the Twins clubhouse before and after games, and the team’s best players were generous with their time. Now there is less access and a larger media contingent, making the clubhouse atmosphere more corporate than personal when reporters are present.

This year’s Twins might improve by 25 or more games over their 2016 performance. But it won’t feel the same as 2001. We already know ’em.

Zack Granite makes fans, Twins take notice of him right away La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | July 10, 2017

Zack Granite has found more ways to get noticed.

Sunday in his first major league start, the Twins center fielder drew a walk at the end of a six-pitch plate appearance in the second inning and later scored. Then he pulled off a Byron Buxton imitation when he raced back to the fence to make leaping grab of Manny Machado’s dangerous-looking drive. The play drew a standing ovation from the fans.

Twins center fielder Zach Granite caught a line drive up against the fence that was hit by the Orioles' Ruben Tejada in the fourth inning Sunday.

Sunday in his first major league start, the Twins center fielder drew a walk at the end of a six-pitch plate appearance in the second inning and later scored. Then he pulled off a Byron Buxton imitation when he raced back to the fence to make leaping grab of Manny Machado’s dangerous-looking drive. The play drew a standing ovation from the fans.

“I think he looked really comfortable,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said after the 11-5 loss to Baltimore. “His at-bats were good. He made a really nice play to go that far and time it and deal with the sun and everything else.

“First day out in center field in our ballpark, so you are learning the territory. It was good to see him get a chance to play. Thought he battled very well and, of course, made an outstanding play.”

This comes after Granite, in his major league debut Saturday, locked horns with Michael Givens during an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with a flyout to left but also another standing ovation.

Granite, 24, is expected to join the Twins in Houston on Friday but could be sent back to Class AAA Rochester by the end of the weekend to 3 make room for a or someone coming off the disabled list. He was batting .360 at Rochester when called up Friday.

Castro scratched

Catcher Jason Castro was in Sunday’s starting lineup until he started to experience neck spasms. So he was replaced by Chris Gimenez.

Castro was 3-for-7 in the series with a run scored, and was listed as the No. 5 hitter in Molitor’s lineup Sunday. Molitor had to re-work his batting order in Castro’s absence, inserting Gimenez in the eighth spot and moving Kennys Vargas, Eddie Rosario and Jorge Polanco up one spot each.

The Twins expect Castro to be ready to play on Friday when the Twins head to Houston. He was a first-round pick of the Astros in 2008, played six seasons with them and represented them at the 2013 All-Star Game.

Breslow to Rochester

Lefthanded reliever Craig Breslow has started a minor league rehabilitation assignment at Rochester, but the Twins aren’t sure how much work he will need before they activate him from the disabled list.

“It’s not overly quantifiable right now,” said Molitor, using words that the Yale-educated Breslow probably would use. “Had a good conversation with him [Saturday] just to make sure he understood that we’re going to be paying attention.”

Breslow will also head to his home in Trumbull, Conn., during the All-Star break before returning to the Red Wings. Then the Twins will determine when they will be comfortable with bringing him back.

“We’ll have to make a determination, physically, that he’s fine,” Molitor said. “Then how many times we want to see him out there. What kind of duration in terms of pitch counts.”

Breslow has been on the disabled list since June 28 because of left thoracic rib soreness.

Colon update

Molitor confirmed Bartolo Colon is scheduled to make his debut with Rochester on Thursday. That would put the 44-year-old righthander in line to start for the Twins on July 18 vs. the Yankees at Target Field.

Barring an injury or ugly outing, the signs point toward Colon joining the Twins after the All-Star break. He signed a minor league contract Friday after getting released by Atlanta.

“We’ll see how his outing goes on Thursday,” Molitor said.

Miguel Sano has a simple goal at Home Run Derby: win La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | July 10, 2017

Twins third baseman Miguel Sano is ready to take part in his first All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night.

Before leaving for Miami on Sunday with fellow American League All-Stars Ervin Santana and Brandon Kintzler, Sano said he received advice from Brian Dozier, who participated in the derby in 2014 at Target Field, to take his time and not waste energy. Sano has a fresh set of bats to use, including one painted in the colors of the AL All-Stars.

Sano, who said he has 21 friends and family members joining him, is not going to the derby just to show up.

“I go there for a win,” he said after the Twins’ 11-5 loss to Baltimore. “I don’t go there for a loss.”

The rules were different when Dozier participated, though. Back then, every batted ball that wasn’t hit for a home run was considered an out.

Since 2015, the Home Run Derby has featured an eight-player bracket and a timer. Sano, the fifth seed, goes against Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas in the first round, with the winner facing either Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton or the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez in the semifinals.

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Each batter gets four minutes, with bonus time awarded on homers going at least 440 feet. Ties will be broken by a 60-second swing-off, with no additional time added. Batters can take one timeout in the first two rounds and two in the finals.

Stanton was given the No. 1 seed as defending champion. The other participants were seeded based on their home run totals through Wednesday.

Twins prospect Nick Gordon helps U.S. team to victory in Futures Game Phil Miller | Star Tribune | July 9, 2017

MIAMI – Nick Gordon on Sunday became the first Twins prospect to contribute a base hit in the All-Star Futures Game since 2014. He also became the first member of his own family to collect one since 2010.

Gordon, chosen fifth overall by the Twins in the 2014 draft, lined a sharp single to center field in the fourth inning off Yankees pitching prospect Domingo Acevedo, and scored two batters later on a double by Astros outfield prospect Derek Fisher, helping propel the United States team to a 7-6 victory over the World team at Marlins Park.

“I was a little bit nervous, but it was fun, more than anything,” Gordon admitted about playing in the same ballpark that his brother, two-time All-Star Dee Gordon, appears in daily as a member of the . “Being close to home, a lot of my family got to come out and see the game. It was definitely a great time, man.”

His brother was in San Francisco playing the Giants, so Dee didn’t get to see his 21-year-old sibling, the shortstop for the Class AA , try to match him by collecting a base hit. And after Nick Gordon grounded out in the first inning, then popped up in the second, the U.S. team’s leadoff hitter might have been feeling some pressure as he came to bat in the fourth inning.

Didn’t matter. After Brendan Rodgers, a Rockies second base prospect, opened the inning with a first-pitch single, Gordon wasted no time doing the same, lacing Acevedo’s 95-mile-per-hour fastball onto the All-Star logo adorning the center field turf.

“I was just thinking, ‘Be aggressive. These guys throw hard,’ ” Gordon said. “You can’t really give them pitches. You get down 0-2 [or] 1-2, they’re really good at what they do. I want to give myself the best chance.”

Milwaukee outfield prospect followed with an 0-1 double to center, scoring Rodgers, and Gordon and Brinson both scored when Derek Fisher, an Astros minor leaguer who played in five major league games last month, doubled on a 1-0 pitch, opening the United States’ lead to 7-0.

“What’s really great about that is they compete against one another, but it helps them make each other better,” said Tom Gordon, father of Dee and Nick and a three-time All-Star pitcher during his own 21-year major league career. “It’s a great feel to see them work to make themselves, and each other, better in this game.”

The team of American-born players scored in each of the first four innings to open that big lead, then held on as the foreign-born team of prospects scored in each of the next three, then two more runs in the ninth to threaten the seventh U.S. victory in eight years.

Not since Kennys Vargas singled in Target Field three years earlier had a position player from the Twins organization appeared in the Futures Game. Gordon, who owns 33 extra-base hits this year, including a Southern League-leading six triples, joins Vargas, Oswaldo Arcia in 2012 and Rene Tosoni in 2009 as players from the Twins system to have a base hit in the past decade.

Each of those past participants was playing in Target Field within a year or two. Will Gordon be there soon, too?

“I don’t think he’s too far away,” said Tom Gordon. “The only thing now is the maturation, gaining some size. And then the mental toughness of playing every single day for 162 ballgames. The grind is what you need to learn, and he’s learning it.”

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Twins, Wolves try going old with Bartolo Colon, Jamal Crawford ple goal at Home Run Derby: win Michael Rand | Star Tribune | July 10, 2017

If most of what you have paid attention to regarding the Twins and Timberwolves the past several years is a constant rebuilding project revolving around youth, the last few days might have caused a recalibration of expectations.

Between them, the two neighboring franchises added players with a combined age of 81. In more recent years, that number would have been good for three (possibly four) players.

In this case, there were just two: Jamal Crawford, a 37-year-old bench scorer for the Wolves and Bartolo Colon, the 44-year-old pitcher for the Twins.

Neither of the two figures to be a savior for their respective teams, but you could see each filling a surprisingly vital role: Colon as a fifth starter on a pitching-desperate team and Crawford as a dependable wing scorer who might keep Tom Thibodeau from playing Andrew Wiggins and Jimmy Butler 48 minutes a game.

The immediate reaction when news emerged that both players were Minnesota-bound — particularly with Colon — was some version of: “Wait, he’s how old? Can he still play?”

The second question is a valid one for any new acquisition, and I suppose it is rightfully linked to the first one. Athletic skills deteriorate with age at a swifter rate than, say, typing skills.

But it is also wise here to caution against ageism with these veteran athletes. Not only is it a cheap putdown — though one still practiced freely in society — but also it forgets the recent contributions of many local players in the twilight of their careers.

The best Vikings quarterback of the past decade? It doesn’t take long to arrive at Brett Favre, who turned 40 in the midst of the 2009 season.

There were plenty of memorable things about the Twins’ first season in Target Field in 2010, but 40-year-old Jim Thome smashing long home runs is right up there.

The Lynx are full of good examples past and present — including the 40-year-old-plus Taj McWilliams-Franklin from their first WNBA title team.

That’s not to say we should expect greatness from Crawford and/or Colon, just to say that if they added something positive to the mix we should hardly be surprised.

Crawford appeared in all 82 games for the Clippers last season. He’s a capable three-point shooter, an excellent free-throw shooter and a good enough defensive player.

Colon was so awful with Atlanta this season (8.14 ERA) that he was available to the Twins, but if you looked at anything other than his age the previous four years — when he won 62 games thanks to pinpoint control — you would be thrilled at giving him a try.

Young or old, good players are good players. The way these recent years have gone for the Twins and Wolves, they will taken any and all help they can get.

Twins defense is looking a little sloppy these days, other notes La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | July 9, 2017

Here are three thoughts from LEN3 following the Twins' loss to Baltimore:

SLOPPY ON D: The Twins weren't charged with any errors on Sunday, but they were not crisp in the field. Dozier mishandled a grounder and had to sprawl on the ground and reach for the ball to force a runner at second. Eddie Rosario's throw from the left field corner evaded two relay men. And Jorge Polanco has had some moments at short recently. Molitor cut off the questioner, he was so each to agree about the recent defensive effort. "The last couple of weeks the errors have been a little more frequent," Molitor said flatly. "Kind of a mixed bag, from throwing to not fielding the ball cleanly. But I thought it has waned a little bit here heading into the break." Molitor agreed with another questioner that long innings and pitchers taking time (Gibson) can lead to a defense that's not on its toes. "The pace of the game was terrible," Molitor said. "It was hard to watch it get slowed down like that. You'd like to think your defense can stay ready but it gets more challengeing. I thought the play 6 that Dozier recovered and tagged the base was the result of a very slow inning. So I do think it does have a litte effect on hwo the guys play on the defensive side."

ANOTHER LOPSIDED LOSS: Read somewhere early this season that the mark of a good team is how many games it wins by five or more runs. So I've paid attention to that a little bit. The Twins have won 12 games that way - but Sunday marked the 19th time they have lost by five or more runs. And that explains why their run differential is minus-60. We've watched this team play all season. The offense is functional and has plenty of upside. The defense has improved. But if the Twins don't add at least one starter (not named Bartolo Colon) and one reliever they are going to see that number continue to head in the wrong direction. Because they can win 5-2 or 4-2 but they will also have games like Sunday's that will turn the differential the wrong way. It's also hard for fans to embrace this team when they lose by scores like Sunday's to teams it should beat.

DOZIER GRUMBLES: Brian Dozier was flabbergasted in the first inning when home plate umpire Lance Barrett ruled that he struck out. Dozier argued that he tipped the ball and the ball hit the dirt, but Barrett said the ball was caught by catcher Caleb Joseph. Dozier held out his arms and pleaded with Barrett, who didn't look like he was intersted in a debate. Twins manager Paul Molitor jogged out to join the discussion as well as to protect Dozier.

Twins hitting coach James Rowson has three connections in home run derby Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 10, 2017

Twins hitting coach James Rowson plans to take his young family to a water park during the all-star break, but you can bet he will find a television somewhere Monday night to watch the home run derby.

In addition to Twins all-star third baseman Miguel Sano, who is seeded fifth and matched up against counterpart Mike Moustakas in the derby quarterfinals, Rowson has a personal connection to a pair of ’ entrants in the event: outfielder Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez.

“It’s pretty cool to watch all those guys have the halves they have and earn the right to be in that derby, so it’s going to be fun to watch them,” said Rowson, hired this offseason after spending the past three years as minor-league hitting coordinator for the Yankees. “It’s like taking their skill and honing it in. For all three of those guys, Gary, Judgie and Miggy, we see what happens when really talented guys hone it in. It’s pretty special to watch.”

While Sano reached the all-star break with 21 homers, just four shy of his career high from last season, Judge was leading the majors with 30 homers and Sanchez already had 13 after hitting 20 last year in just 53 games.

Rowson is fully committed to his new crop of hitters, but after helping Judge and Sanchez polish their skills in the minors he keeps tabs and stays in touch.

“You always shoot guys texts from time to time, here and there, just to make sure they’re doing well and doing OK,” Rowson said. “Those guys have always had power, and now it’s pretty cool to watch that they’ve put their swings together. Now they can actually make that power work on a daily basis in the big leagues, which is the ultimate goal.”

While there certainly are differences in body type and approach, Rowson does see at least one aspect linking all three of his derby-bound protégés.

“I would say the common thread is all of them have always looked to do damage,” he said. “Their approach has always been to get pitches to drive and do damage with, regardless of the outcome. It’s kind of a killer instinct with the bat in their hand.”

Another commonality, Rowson said, is the trio’s relentlessness when it comes to working in the cage.

“Oh, man, all those guys have great work ethic, the same as I talk about with Miggy here,” Rowson said. “They have a passion, a love for hitting and that, with a great work ethic, usually turns out well for you.”

Judge, seeded second, will face Justin Bour of the host Miami Marlins in the first round on Monday night, while Sanchez, seeded eighth, will face defending champion Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins.

As he watches his trio of pupils, Rowson could easily think back to times when Sano, Judge and Sanchez, talented as they are, found themselves searching for answers amid prolonged slumps. 7

“I would say all hitters have gone through that,” Rowson said. “When you’re trying to find your way ultimately as a hitter, you have to go through different trials and you have to go through some rough patches. But at the end of the day, for all three of those guys, it’s about trusting their ability.

“They have the ability, so when they’ve working on something, they have to make sure when they go into the game they leave that behind and trust the work that they did. They were all able to do that at some point. Baseball’s a tough game, so there’s always those ups and downs and those moments that are tough for you.”

Nick Gordon reunites with youth teammates at All-Star Futures Game Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 9, 2017

MIAMI — It was just like old times Sunday afternoon at the All-Star Futures Game for Nick Gordon and Brendan Rodgers, famed middle infield of the Florida Flash youth baseball program outside Orlando in their early teens.

When Gordon, the Twins’ top prospect and fifth overall pick in 2014, trotted out to his shortstop position at Marlins Park for the top of the first inning, he glanced to his left and saw Rodgers, taken third overall in 2015 by the out of Lake Mary (Fla.) High School.

While now ranks Gordon the 19th-best prospect in the minor leagues, Rodgers, a high-end shortstop in his own right, is ranked seventh. How did they determine who would play shortstop for Team USA against the game’s best prospects?

“Nah, I would have beaten him if it was arm wrestling,” Rodgers said with a laugh. “I don’t think we had much say in it. I’m totally fine. I was happy I got to play up the middle with him. It’s been 7-8 years since the last time, so it was an unbelievable experience.”

When Rodgers, batting ninth, started the bottom of the fourth with a first-pitch single off hard-throwing New York Yankees prospect Domingo Acevedo, Gordon, who went 1 for 3 out of the leadoff spot, followed with a first-pitch line single of his own off a 95-mph fastball.

Both Rodgers and Gordon came around to score as former big-league closer Tom “Flash” Gordon, watching from the stands along with close to 35 extended family members, looked on with pride. The Florida Flash was the team he formed so “Nicholas,” as he still calls his younger son, could play against the best regional competition.

“Out of 25 kids in the program, we had 24 go into either pro ball or play Division I,” the elder Gordon said. “We went up to Atlanta and played in those big tournaments. We were in the championship all three times and won once, out of 250-300 teams.”

Nick Gordon played on the team from age 10 until he turned 16. At that point, Rodgers inherited his old job at shortstop.

“I know his dad back in the day wanted him to be a pitcher very badly,” said Rodgers, who like Gordon committed to Florida State out of high school before opting to start his professional career. “He was throwing in the high 80s when we were 14 years old, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ Nick wanted to play shortstop. Whenever he went in to pitch, I went over to short. That’s how it was.”

When shortstop prospect Bo Bichette, son of former big-league outfielder Dante Bichette, pinch hit for Gordon in the fifth inning, the Central Florida connection shone through again. Bo and Nick played together on another youth team after Nick aged out of the Florida Flash.

“It was just tremendous to see those kids together,” Tom Gordon said. “I never coached Bo, but I would have liked to. His dad was always a dear friend of mine. I respected the way he played the game.”

Rodgers feels the same way about Nick Gordon, currently ripping through the Double-A Southern League while Rodgers does the same in the Eastern League with the Twins’ renamed former affiliate, the Hartford Yard Goats.

Gordon was again diplomatic postgame when the topic of his positional future was raised.

“The Twins know what they need, they know what they want,” he said. “Whatever they need me to do, whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to play.”

Ask Rodgers, however, if his old friend has what it takes to stay at shortstop long term, and he won’t hesitate.

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“Absolutely,” Rodgers said. “I think he’s got the arm, he’s got the hands, he’s got the feet. I think he’ll stay at short the rest of his career. Twins, ‘might not do much’ at the trade deadline, Molitor says Chad Graff | Pioneer Press | July 9, 2017

Even if the Twins continue their current pace and remain just a few games out of the Central Division lead come the July 31 trade deadline, they, “still might not do much,” manager Paul Molitor said.

On the eve of the all-star break, Molitor said the Twins are still in the early stages of deciding whether they’ll be buyers or sellers come the deadline.

On the one hand, he said, he has a desire to reward the current players who have largely exceeded expectations in amassing a 45-43 record entering the break.

“But I fully see a bigger spectrum too,” Molitor said.

Fifteen games remain for the Twins who trail the in the division with the Kansas City Royals keeping pace with the Twins behind the division leaders.

This will be the first trade deadline for the Twins’ new front office led by Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.

Molitor said those two have kept him in the loop with what they’re thinking leading into the deadline.

“I’ve been kept abreast about some of the things that they are monitoring either in receiving calls about our players, or clubs that are calling to tell us about potential players they’d be willing to move and see if we have any interest,” Molitor said. “We’re still early. I don’t know what we need to do to influence moves we might make in the next two or three weeks. Depends on how fast our division moves along and whether we can maintain pace. Those types of things will all be factors.”

GRANITE’S DEBUT

Center fielder Zack Granite’s first MLB start was highlighted by a leaping, at-the-wall catch in the fourth inning that robbed Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado of an extra base hit.

Granite, who was called up earlier this week and made his debut Saturday, went 1-for-3 at the plate Sunday with a walk and a run.

“I think he looked really comfortable,” Molitor said. “His at-bats were good. He made a really nice play to go back that far and time it and everything else on his first day in center field in our ballpark. It was good to see him get a chance to play.”

The 24-year-old was hitting .360 at Triple-A Rochester before his call-up. He had around a dozen friends and family members at Sunday’s game.

“That was really cool,” he said after his first start.

SANO’S DERBY DAY

As third baseman Sano prepared to head to Miami for Monday’s home run derby, Molitor said he hopes Sano enjoys the event without being weighed down by the pressure that it can accompany.

“More than anything I hope he enjoys the experience and somehow some way finds a way not to feel the pressure in it but more the pleasure in it,” Molitor said. “It’s unpredictable in a given day how your launch mode is going to go. We see some days where I watch him take batting practice and he won’t hit any over the fence because he’s working on staying inside the ball or just getting himself game ready. But then he’ll have days where he’s feeling good and he’ll fly out nine of 10 swings. … If he gets hot, who knows how far it’ll take him.”

BRIEFLY

Catcher Jason Castro was a late scratch from Sunday’s game due to neck spasms. … Veteran reliever Craig Breslow, on the disabled list due to a rib injury, will take the all-star break off, then begin a rehab stint at Triple-A Rochester on Thursday, Molitor said.

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Brian Murphy: Backpedaling Twins need to set sale for the future Brian Murphy | Pioneer Press | July 9, 2017

Eighty-eight games into the 2017 season, the are cured. Not of the bone-deep plague on the back end of their pitching rotation; their identity is cemented — three resilient lurches forward, two pratfalls back.

They are a feisty bunch to be sure. Unwilling to let overwhelming losses to Houston and Cleveland reverse a promising growth spurt but unable to distance themselves from their more talented and tested rivals in the American League.

The punishing Astros await them after the all-star break in Houston. And they have not even played the Yankees yet.

Gulp.

Whenever the Twins invite you to invest in them as a postseason contender, they turn into junk bonds. Exhibit A was Sunday’s 11-5 loss to the at Target Field.

Poised to take three out of four from the struggling Birds and lean in to their midseason respite, the Twins are backpedaling again, making it arduous to buy in to their ephemeral status.

Moreover, they are making it hard for chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine to endow manager Paul Molitor and his clubhouse with upgrades at the July 31 trade deadline instead of making hard choices that are inevitable.

The Kyle Gibson Project has exhausted patience and potential.

His doomed outing was telegraphed when the right-hander started the game with a four-pitch walk. Gibson threw 82 pitches without recording an out in the fifth inning.

Orioles hitters abused his offerings to the tune of seven earned runs off nine hits, including a pair of Adam Jones home runs that drove fans in the outfield seats into foxholes.

It was 5-0 Baltimore before Twins hitters spun a four-run second inning into a lifeline for Gibson, who wrapped it around his neck and flailed hopelessly down to the seafloor.

“Bad location on a lot of pitches,” Gibson lamented.

Cut bait.

None of us should be made to suffer through another middling Gibson outing or another minor-league recalibration before discerning minds agree he has devolved into a latter-day Nick Blackburn, a nibbling right-hander always one productive day on the mound from figuring everything out.

That would be no less desperate than dumpster diving for Bartolo Colon, the portly folk hero who could be rumbling to the mound at Target Field in time for Minnesota’s next homestand.

It appears the Twins peaked May 27 at seven games above .500. They have been toggling back and forth ever since. Teasing while losing ground to the first-place Indians while the resurgent Royals are poised to sprint past them in the AL Central.

The Twins’ lineup is maturing. Miguel Sano is a bona fide all star. Max Kepler is on the big fella’s heels. Rookie Zack Granite’s magnificent wall- banging catch in center field should give Byron Buxton plenty to think about during the break.

But there is scant reason to believe the Twins will be able to hammer-and-tong their way to a postseason berth, not with this underwhelming Nos. 3-5 rotation and an overtaxed bullpen.

Minnesota would be the bug splattered on the Astros’ or Yankees’ windshield. Another painful trip to the Bronx in October or another quick first-round exit seems inevitable considering the Twins’ rotation drops off a cliff behind Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios.

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Holding onto the 34-year-old Santana, whose value has never been higher as he exceeds career performance, is a fool’s errand when there is opportunity to leverage his renaissance into assets at the deadline.

If Santana continues dealing in July, Falvey and Levine should not hesitate to deal him to a high-stakes contender prowling for a top-tier starter. Throwing chump change at Colon hoping to strike gold with the 45-year-old is filling a pothole in a rotation in dire need of a rebuild.

It’s been an entertaining and revealing first half. But Molitor’s roster is on borrowed time unless he can monopolize momentum instead of squandering it and pile up wins the next two weeks to convince his front office not to sell.

“Our performance will definitely be a big part of that,” he said before the game. “We can continue on the pace we’re on and hopefully even (play at) a little bit better pace and still might not do much, which is a real possibility too.”

Bye, buy.

Sano to slug in 1st Derby (7 CT on ESPN) Rhett Bollinger | MLB | July 9, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins slugger Miguel Sano is set to participate in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby for the first time in his career tonight at Miami's Marlins Park at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Sano, also named an All-Star for the first time, became the first Twins player to reach 21 homers before the All-Star break since Justin Morneau in 2009. The Dominican Republic native said he'll have roughly 20 family members on hand to watch him participate in the event.

"I've been trying not to think about it, but I'm very excited because it's the first time in my career I'm in the Home Run Derby and an All-Star," Sano said. "But I've tried to stay focused on the games, keeping my mind there."

Sano, who will have former Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis throw to him, is seeded fifth in the event, and he is matched up against Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas in the first round. It's a single-elimination bracket with each hitter getting four minutes to hit as many homers as he can.

"I'm so happy for him, because he was named an All-Star, too," Sano said of Moustakas, who won the American League Final Vote. "I'm really excited to compete against a person I know and have played against a lot. I need to go there and do the best I can."

Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who competed in the event at Target Field in 2014, said he's been teasing Sano about what to expect.

"He's extremely nervous," Dozier said with a laugh. "I've been teasing him not to swing and miss. Instead of us trying to calm his nerves, we've tried to make him more nervous. I've been giving him all the scenarios with the camera right beside you, no cage, no catcher, microphones at your feet."

Joking aside, Dozier said he's rooting for Sano, and he plans to watch the event to see how he does. He's curious to see how he stacks up against sluggers like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

"He likes to take some ginormous cuts, and he'll try to beat out Stanton in distance," Dozier said. "So that's going to be entertaining to watch."

Twins manager Paul Molitor acknowledged it can be a nerve-wracking event, but he believes Sano's easy power should suit him well in the event. Sano ranks second in the Majors in average exit velocity behind Judge.

"More than anything, I hope he enjoys the experience and somehow, some way, he finds the pleasure in it and not the pressure in it," Molitor said. "It can be unpredictable some days how your launch mode is going to go. I watch him some days during BP, and he doesn't hit any over the fence because he's working on things or trying to stay inside the ball. And then there are days where he's feeling good or whatever, and it's flying out nine out of 10 swings."

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World of talent wows Miami in Futures Game Daniel Kramer and Oliver Macklin | MLB | July 9, 2017

The following is an excerpt from the article:

TWINS Nick Gordon, SS, MIN No. 1 | MLB No. 40: The younger brother of Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon, Nick singled in his third and final at-bat of the game and came in to score on a double by Fisher.

Twins' momentum halted after early rally Rhett Bollinger & Shane Jackson | MLB | July 9, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Adam Jones clubbed a pair of homers to help the Orioles power past the Twins, 11-5, on Sunday at Target Field. Baltimore closed out the first half of the season with two straight wins to split the four-game set. Minnesota has won five of the seven meetings between the two teams this year.

Jones launched a three-run blast in the first off Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, who was handed the loss, and the O's never looked back. Gibson was charged with seven runs off nine hits across four innings.

"It's always a good thing to go into a break with a win," Jones said. "Last two games, we have played some really good baseball. We have a few days off, so hopefully we can mentally put behind us the last two months. Come out second half, blazing saddles."

Baltimore catcher Caleb Joseph and Jones were responsible for eight of the team's 11 runs. Jones collected five RBIs, including a solo shot to lead off the fifth inning. Joseph delivered a two-run single during a four-run fifth inning, as he finished the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

O's righty Ubaldo Jimenez labored through five innings, surrendering four runs on four hits. All four runs came during the second inning, in which he allowed only two hits but walked three batters and hit another. Robbie Grossman (two-run single) and Max Kepler (RBI double) delivered the only significant blows to Jimenez before he induced an inning-ending groundout by All-Star third baseman Miguel Sano.

"It's frustrating for it to turn it out that way," Gibson said. "I think I threw enough strikes, but it was about the quality of strikes. That's a good lineup over there, and you have to execute pitches in the zone."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Jones' first jack: Jones sent a first-pitch slider into the seats for a three-run blast in the first inning, which gave Baltimore an early advantage. According to Statcast™, the ball traveled an estimated 452 feet with an exit velocity of 105.8 mph. It was Jones' longest homer this season by 31 feet and just one foot shy of his personal best since Statcast™ began tracking home runs in 2015. The Orioles now have a Major League-leading eight homers that have gone a projected 450-plus feet.

Four-spot: Baltimore broke the game open and chased Gibson out of the game for good in the the fifth inning. Clinging to a 5-4 lead, Jones crushed a solo shot to left to lead off the fifth. Per Statcast™, the homer had an exit velocity of 110.9 mph, which was his hardest home run of the season and second hardest since the start of 2015. Mark Trumbo followed up with a single hit at 111.5 mph, according to Statcast™, to close the book on Gibson. Against Tyler Duffey, three of the next four batters reached via a hit. Joseph and Ruben Tejada capped the outburst with a two-run single and an RBI double, respectively.

"They have a hungry lineup over there and when you smell blood, you just have to get in there and do your best to keep tacking on runs," Joseph said. "But to tack on runs, those are the nails in the coffin that really put the game away."

QUOTABLE "With the last couple losses, it's kind of a disappointing way to go into the break. I think there were times we could've spurted and took advantage of some opportunities. But if you look back at the beginning and see where we are, that'd be encouraging. So as a manager you look for the positives, the competitiveness and resiliency we've shown. But you always think there's another level to get to." -- manager Paul Molitor, on the Twins, who go into the All-Star break with a 45-43 record

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Jones climbed up the Orioles' all-time RBI leaderboard with his efforts on Sunday. He now has 770 RBIs, enough to pass Ken Singleton for fifth in Baltimore history. 12

GRANITE MAKES FIRST START Twins rookie Zack Granite, who made his Major League debut with a pinch-hit appearance on Saturday, made his first career start in center field. He made a great catch in the fourth, robbing Manny Machado of extra bases with a leaping grab at the wall. He went 0-for-3 with a walk, and he is looking for his first career hit.

"I got a decent jump at it," Granite said. "I timed it pretty good. I knew where I was, and I feel like I'm better going back on the ball. So I just timed it right and made the catch."

CASTRO SCRATCHED Twins catcher Jason Castro was scratched from the lineup with neck spasms, and he was replaced by Chris Gimenez. Castro is day-to-day.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW Baltimore's All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop was originally rewarded with an infield single to lead off the sixth inning. However, after a review that lasted 50 seconds, the call was overturned and he was ruled out on a 6-3 putout.

The Orioles elected to challenge a play in the top of the seventh. Initially, Trey Mancini was ruled out on a groundout to third base. It took two minutes and 20 seconds for the review, but the call stood. Baltimore is now 14-for-19 on the season on their own challenges.

WHAT'S NEXT Orioles: Baltimore will return home after the All-Star Break for a 10-game homestand, starting with a three-game Interleague set against the Cubs. Right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-7, 5.85 ERA) is slated to get the ball in the series opener on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV. In his last start, Gausman gave up six runs (five earned) over four innings to Minnesota.

Twins: After the All-Star break, the Twins head to Houston for a three-game series against the American League-leading Astros that begins on Friday at 7:10 p.m. CT on MLB.TV. Right-hander Jose Berrios (8-2, 3.53 ERA) is set to start, and he is coming off a win against the Orioles, allowing three earned runs in six innings.

Sunday's best: Garver hits three homers in win for Rochester William Boor | MLB | July 9, 2017

Mitch Garver isn't known for his power, but he certainly showed an ability to hit the ball out of the yard on Sunday as he led Triple-A Rochester to an 8-2 win over Syracuse.

The Twins' No. 14 prospect belted a trio of homers, his second career three-homer game, and matched his season high with four RBIs in an impressive 3-for-5 day at the plate. "It was something pretty special," Garver told MiLB.com. "I took my time a little bit that third time around. The crowd was cheering. I got back to the dugout, everybody was smiling. I could see the crowd was on their feet. That's a really special feeling." Garver, who now has 12 homers through 59 games after hitting 12 in 117 games last season, has been on a power surge with four homers over the past three games and five in nine games this month.

The 26-year-old grounded out in his first at-bat Sunday, but then began to steal the show. Garver his a two-run homer in the second and then solo blasts in the fourth and sixth innings.

"It felt good," Garver said. "It's nice to get the ball in the air. If you've ever been to Rochester, you know that the wind blows out on day games, so you always want to be playing in those games and if you can get the ball in the air with enough barrel, you always have a shot."

Berrios takes on Astros in second-half opener Shane Jackson| MLB | July 9, 2017

The Twins and Astros will kick off the second half of the season with a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Friday. Houston's Charlie Morton will go opposite Jose Berrios of Minnesota at 7:10 p.m. CT.

Morton (6-3, 3.82 ERA) made 11 starts in the first half of the season, striking out 68 batters across 63 2/3 innings. He has fanned 9.6 batters per nine innings after posting a 6.3 mark in nearly 900 innings from 2008-16. In his last start, Morton spun six innings of one-run ball against the Blue Jays in his first outing since returning from the disabled list.

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Berrios (8-2, 3.53 ERA) also made 11 starts in the first half, and he helped provide some stability for a struggling rotation. Berrios lasted at least six innings in all but three of his starts after doing so just once in 14 outings last year. Last time out, Berrios held the Orioles to four runs (three earned) across six innings to earn the win. Berrios faced the Astros on May 30, lasting a season-low five innings and allowing four runs on five hits.

Three things to know about this game • The Astros have won all three meetings at Target Field this season, outscoring the Twins by 24 runs. Houston went 5-2 against Minnesota in 2016, posting a plus 26-run differential.

• Morton has faced the Twins only once in his career. The veteran righty lasted 5 2/3 innings on July 28, 2015, as he scattered six hits and allowed three runs in the no-decision.

• Morton has not allowed a run in the first inning in any of his past six starts dating back to May 3. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has the longest active streak with 12.

Twins ‘not enamored’ with trade market for rental players, will target value for 2018 and beyond Derek Wetmore | ESPN 1500 | July 10, 2017

The Twins were in first place in the for weeks on end, which surprised a lot of people around baseball. Many believed the Indians – fresh off a World Series appearance and with a roster that appeared even stronger this year – would run away with the division in 2017.

They haven’t exactly done that, although Cleveland has picked up steam in recent weeks. The Twins, for their part, are 45-43 at the All-Star break, which is surprising considering they won just 59 games all of last season.

So the question on the mind of Twins fans over the next few weeks will be: As the non-waiver trade deadline approaches at the end of July, are the Twins going to buyers or sellers?

As you might expect, the front office is staying tight-lipped publicly, as they try to make that determination.

“I think we, like so many clubs this year, are going to wait this thing out,” GM Thad Levine said in a radio interview with 1500ESPN on Friday. “We’re not looking to necessarily jump the market making any significant conclusions about the club we have. We’re really still evaluating.”

And that evaluation could go on for a couple more weeks. The Twins have 15 games to go before the deadline, including 9 games against the Astros, Yankees and Dodgers, three teams that are expected to play meaningful baseball games in October.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said he’s been kept abreast of the most pressing conversations going on behind the scenes. And even so, it’s not clear what his club will need to do to justify to the front office that it’s worth it to make some moves designed to improve the 2017 club’s chances of reaching the postseason.

“I don’t know what we need to do to influence moves we might make here in the next 2,3 weeks,” Molitor said Sunday. “It depends a lot on how our division moves along and other teams and how we can maintain pace and all those type of things. I’m sure they’ll all be factors.”

So the Twins’ top decision makers haven’t gone out to declare: “We are buyers.” But they also haven’t said that they’ve given up on this year’s club, or that they’ll make trades with only the future in mind.

“We’re very open to making moves to help this club,” Levine said in the radio interview. “I just think we’ve always had an eye – while we aspire to help the club in 2017 – kind of the focus is making sure that we also help the club in 2018 and beyond.

“We, like some other clubs out there, are really not enamored with the rental market … It doesn’t mean we’ll turn a blind eye to those types of players, it just means that I don’t think we’re going to be inclined to give up a lot of our future prospects for those types of players,” he said.

“But conversely, we’re telling all the clubs out there that if you’re in the market and interested in trading players that we could control in 2018 and beyond, then we would have a lot of interest in doing some business,” Levine said. “I think we recognize that there are parts of this club that we would like to augment and supplement in order to put ourselves in the best position to win—and that’s to win now and in the future. We’re just going to make sure that we’re focused on both simultaneously, not one without the other.”

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Levine also spoke about the importance of not treating the trade deadline as a popularity contest, in which the front office tries to please everybody all at once.

Based on public comments from the Twins front office and Twins manager Paul Molitor, it seems the team is yet undecided about buying or selling, and they’re certainly bracing for the possibility that this trade deadline won’t necessarily involve beefing up the 2017 club in a significant way.

Twins GM Thad Levine suggests MLB trade deadline can’t be a popularity contest Derek Wetmore | ESPN 1500 | July 9, 2017

Derek Falvey took over the Twins front office in November and hired former top assistant Thad Levine to be his GM. Now, the two are at the helm of a club contending for the postseason as the MLB non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

At this point, nobody on the outside is sure whether the Twins will be buyers or sellers–or if they’ll make any trades at all. It’s even fair to wonder if the people inside the organization have a concrete answer to that question, given the unknowns over the next few weeks before the deadline.

Levine was interviewed Friday on 1500ESPN, and asked whether he considers the message they’d be sending if they became buyers or sellers.

Levine said that worrying about what others will think of a club’s choice “can waylay good decision making at times.”

“This is the unfortunate reality of these positions: I think if we look at them as popularity contests where we’re trying to appease all the constituents simultaneously, we’re going to fall well short for every single consitutent,” Levine said. “And when I say that I mean the owners, the fans, the media, our clubhouse. It’s very challenging to appease everyone simultaneously, short of going to a World Series and triumphing. So Derek [Falvey] and I, as best we can, try not to let our own personal ego and how we want to be viewed, cloud what we think is the right thing for the franchise.”

“So we’ll never put out self-interest in front of the franchise interest. But at times that may leave us doing things that, to some of those constituents, could be unpopular. We never aspire to inflame relations with anybody. But we recognize that our goal here is to help the franchise in the near-term and in the future, and not necessarily to win over every single constituent with every decision we make,” he said.

Twins end first half with home loss, series split against Orioles Associated Press | July 9, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — The Baltimore Orioles ended the first half of the season playing the way they had expected to for all of 2017.

They’ll have to do that and more if they want to make up ground in the rugged AL East.

Adam Jones homered twice and drove in five runs to lead a 15-hit attack and the Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 11-5 on Sunday.

“Our style is our pitcher attacks the zone, our defense plays well behind him, and we get some longballs,” Jones said. “This series we’ve been able to do a few of those things.”

Ruben Tejada and Seth Smith each had three hits for the Orioles, who won their second straight after losing seven of eight.

After reaching the playoffs three times in the past five seasons, Baltimore enters the break 42-46 and scrambling to play catch-up in the AL’s most competitive division.

“We finished on a high note. There’s a lot of good things that happened,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “I try to dwell on that too, but also have a sense of reality about some things that are going to have to get better.”

Max Kepler had a double and a triple and Robbie Grossman drove in two runs for the Twins, who had their first winning homestand (4-3) since the first week in April.

Ubaldo Jimenez (4-4) worked five innings for his third win in his past five starts.

Jones put the Orioles on top 3-0 just four batters into the game when he drove a hanging slider into the second deck above the bullpens in left- 15 center.

Kyle Gibson (5-7) had issued a four-pitch walk to Seth Smith to start the game, and All-Star Jonathan Schoop singled with one out to set up Jones’ 444-foot shot.

“It was a slider that was up,” Jones said. “I’m not going to take that too often.”

Jones also homered to lead off Baltimore’s four-run fifth. Catcher Caleb Joseph’s two-run bloop single off the end of the bat to short right- center was the other big hit in the fifth inning.

“When you get guys on base, you start creating havoc out there, things can happen. Then a flare in the Bermuda Triangle scores two,” Joseph said.

“It’s little things like that that start compounding and that’s what we’ve been able to do the last four, five years. We’re looking to try to get back to that.”

ZONING IN

The Twins did all their damage against Jimenez in the second inning, when the Orioles’ starter hit a batter and walked three, leading to four runs. But Jimenez didn’t think he was missing the zone by much — or at all, actually.

“We watched the video and all those pitches were in the strike zone,” Jimenez said. “I don’t know what happened. I have respect for the umpires who are out there because, just like us, they’re trying to do the best they can.”

Joseph said plate umpire Lance Barrett had a high zone that stayed consistent throughout the game for both teams.

“You have to adjust, and I thought he did a nice job adjusting and put up some zeroes for us,” Joseph said.

Jimenez threw 43 pitches before finally getting the third out of the inning, but he wasn’t upset about Barrett’s zone after the game.

“It’s part of the game,” he said. “I know he’s trying to do his best out there. He just had a tough day.”

GLOVE WORK

Twins center fielder Zack Granite made the most of his first major league start. Granite saved at least one run with a leaping grab at the wall on a hit from third baseman Manny Machado in the fourth inning.

“I talked to (Byron Buxton) before the game, and he was telling me the ball flies here,” said Granite, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday. “I had a decent jump at it, kind of timed it pretty good.”

The catch came with runners on first and second and one out in the fourth. The lead runner advanced to third base, but Gibson got out of the inning without giving up a run thanks to the rookie’s big play.

“I’ve made some pretty big catches in my life,” Granite said. “But on a stage like this, that was cool.”

TWINS TAKE

Minnesota reached the All-Star break at 45-43. It’s only the second time in the past seven seasons the Twins have been above .500 at the break.

“You look at the positives: the competitiveness, the resiliency, we showed improvement in areas that we hoped to get better in,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

“But you always think there’s another level to get to. I think we’re going to have to keep finding that and pushing forward.

“The reality is we’re a couple games over .500. It’s better than where we were last year, but we’ve got to play better if we want to stick around this thing.”

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TRAINER’S ROOM

Orioles: First baseman Chris Davis, who has been out since June 13 with a strained right oblique, took batting practice before Sunday’s game. He’s scheduled to begin a brief rehab assignment on Monday at Class A Frederick. Showalter said he expects Davis to be ready to rejoin the team after the All-Star break.

Twins: Molitor said LHP Craig Breslow would spend the All-Star break at home in Boston before reporting to Triple-A Rochester to begin a rehab assignment. Breslow has been on the DL since June 28 due to left thoracic rib soreness. . . . Catcher Jason Castro was scratched from the starting lineup on Sunday due to neck cramps.

UP NEXT

Orioles: After the All-Star Game, the Orioles return to action on Friday when they kick off a nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the . The team has not announced its rotation for the series, but Showalter indicated that he was leaning toward RHP Kevin Gausman (5-7, 5.85 ERA) getting the start on Friday.

Twins: Minnesota opens the second half with a weekend series at Houston. RHP Jose Berrios (8-2, 3.53) is scheduled to start the opener on Friday.

Bartolo Colon is with the Twins and the Mets aren’t happy at all Demetrius Bell | SB Nation | July 9, 2017

Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s OK, though. We’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.

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Bartolo Colon's time as a free agent didn't last very long. After being designated for assignment and subsequently released by the , the 44-year-old veteran eventually found a new home. There were plenty of rumors that we were going to see the human .gif file himself reunite with the . However, there was another team out there that needed pitching help in the worst way. The Minnesota Twins haven't gotten too much production from their starters, so they decided to take a flier on Bartolo Colon with a minor league deal.

Judging by the reaction from the crew over at Twinkie Town, they aren't exactly thrilled about bringing in Big Sexy as a potential salve to their starting pitching woes. However, one team's "meh" is the apple of another team's eye, because the Mets are apparently very disappointed that a reunion won't be happening. According to the New York Post, the Mets made a "strong effort" to bring Bartolo back to Citi Field, but were "stunned" when Colon spurned them in favor of signing with the Twins.

It says a lot about the current state of Mets starting pitching when they're disappointed in missing out on a 44-year-old pitcher who is coming off of a stint where he had an 8.14 ERA, a 5.10 FIP, and a 6.7% walk rate that would be his career high if he continued to keep pitching like he did with the Braves. However, New York's rotation right now looks nothing like the potentially scary rotation it has when healthy. New York's had a disaster of a season when compared to expectations, and this is just the latest twist in what's been a series of unfortunate events for the Mets.

Meanwhile, Bartolo Colon's grand tour through baseball has now led him to the land of 10,000 lakes, in what could be the final stop on said tour. There's no guarantee that he'll make it to the bigs with the Twins but if he does, it'll be nice to see Big Sexy continue to insult Father Time.

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