Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Friday, June 3, 2016 All

Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Friday, June 3, 2016

 All-around effort gives Twins a series-opening victory over Tampa Bay. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 1  Reusse: Search for Twins' All-Star starts and ends with Nunez. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 2  Sore back postpones Gibson's expected return to Twins. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3  Minnesota Twins collect several firsts in beating Tampa Bay Rays. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 4  Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson dealing with sciatic nerve issue. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6  Twins unleash 15-hit attack in win over Rays. MLB.com (Bollinger and Chastain) p. 7  Nunez delivers inside-the-park HR for Twins. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 8  Twins' bottom of order makes big contribution. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 9  Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Hughes subs unsuccessfully, Kepler’s first RBIs, Buxton’s approach. 1500 ESPN (Wetmore) p. 10  New approach? Why Byron Buxton is visualizing hits to the second baseman. 1500 ESPN (Wetmore) p. 11  Twins bullpen locks up 6-4 win over reeling Rays. Associated Press p. 12

All-around effort gives Twins a series-opening victory over Tampa Bay

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 3, 2016

There was a little bit of everything from the Twins’ offense Thursday.

Eduardo Nunez electrified fans with the first leadoff inside-the-park home run in Target Field history. The bottom of the order contributed. Rookies produced. Struggling veterans stepped up. And it all was part of a season-high 15-hit attack

The Twins used the offensive burst to beat Tampa Bay 6-4 and stopped a three-game losing streak while helping reliever Taylor Rogers win his first major league game.

“There was a lot of contributions from a lot of guys,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

Nunez led off the first with a fly ball to right that should have been caught by outfielder Brandon Guyer, but he looked as if he had trouble tracking the ball in the sun. He staggered back to the wall and still had time to make a play. but the ball hit his glove and rolled toward the right- field corner.

Nunez was nearing second at the time, his helmet popping off his head as he ran. Then he looked at third base coach Gene Glynn and realized he was being waved home.

“When I saw Geno, I just kept going,” Nunez said.

Nunez slid on his belly — and with a big grin on his face — and owned the first leadoff inside-the-park home run in Twins history and the first one in the majors since Eric Young did it for the Rockies on Aug. 8, 2012. It was the first leadoff inside-the-park home run in franchise history since July 26, 1949.

It also was the first inside-the-park home run hit by a Twins player in Target Field.

“At the end of the play, I was just happy to make it,” he said. “I didn’t want to run anymore.”

By the end of the game, every Twin would have at least one hit. Byung Ho Park had three hits, including two doubles. Brian Dozier added a home run that actually cleared the fence. And Max Kepler had his first two major league RBI.

The Twins entered the game last in the American League in runs scored, which was disappointing because of the promise the offense showed heading into the season. There was home-run potential from the unit, but that hasn’t materialized.

“Home runs are nice,” Moltior said, “but I don’t want to be a team that relies on that. I’d rather have flow.”

When the Rays took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, the Twins responded with two runs in the fourth, one on Kepler’s first RBI, a double to right- center, the other on Byron Buxton’s sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on Evan Longoria’s two-run homer that chased starter Phil Hughes from the game. But Dozier tied the score in the fifth with a solo homer.

Then Dozier was plunked by an Erasmus Ramirez pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth, forcing in the lead run. Kepler’s RBI single in the seventh gave the Twins a 6-4 lead. Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his seventh save.

The Twins have won five of their past seven games against Tampa Bay, going back to the start of the 2015 season.

“It was great to have a game like that,” Nunez said. “We haven’t had many of them this year.”

Reusse: Search for Twins' All-Star starts and ends with Nunez

Patrick Reusse | Star Tribune | June 3, 2016

The idea that the futile Twins must have a representative on the American League All-Star team has been greeted with some derision in the unkind world of social media.

The All-Star rosters have been expanded to the point that adding a player from all teams isn’t quite the burden that once was the case. And even if that requirement grates on you, the Twins have been in a more difficult situation in the past in sending a player worthy of having “All- Star” on his résumé than they are at the moment.

Right now, the identity of the Twins’ All-Star is an uncontested layup:

Eduardo Nunez.

Amidst the gloom, Nunez has been the most consistent hitter available to Paul Molitor. It did take a while for the manager to buy in to that notion.

Nunez started one of the Twins’ first nine games. It would be foolish to offer that as a reason the Twins started 0-9.

What it does explain is Molitor’s willingness to go away from a theory that Nunez was more valuable being used as a spare infielder to play three times a week than on a regular basis.

The disastrous start and injuries to shortstop Eduardo Escobar and third baseman Trevor Plouffe put Nunez in the lineup on a regular basis. He has started 38 of the 44 games since opening the season as mostly a spectator.

He has played enough to reach the required plate appearances to qualify among the American League batting leaders. Entering Thursday’s game at Target Field, Nunez was sixth in the AL at .329.

Molitor went with Brian Dozier as his leadoff hitter for most of his first season as manager in 2015. When Dozier went cool after the All-Star Game, it became an issue.

When asked about his concerns in spring training, finding a leadoff hitter was among those Molitor would mention. The concerns became much greater once this season started, of course, but the need for a leadoff hitter still was there.

Molitor even gave into the mouth-breathing, analytical nut cases and batted Joe Mauer at the top for eight games.

On May 24, Molitor sat the slump-ridden Dozier and put Nunez at second base and the top of the order. Dozier returned to the lineup after a couple of days, but Nunez has moved around and stayed at the top of the order.

On Thursday, Nunez was leading off for the 10th consecutive game. He started what would become a 6-4 victory for the Twins with a drive to deep right off Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore. There was a stream of sunlight interrupting the shadows in front of the Rays’ Brandon Guyer.

You could see Guyer was in trouble as he backed up. He reached high and the ball ricocheted off his glove. Nunez circled the bases and was credited with an inside-the-park home run.

“That’s a play I have to make,” Guyer said. “It hit my glove. There was a little glare at the end … it killed me, for the team and for Matt.”

Fly balls are routinely called hits when an outfielder loses a ball in the sun. Guyer clearly was affected by that glare of sun. I’m on board with the home-run call … a well-hit ball and the first inside-the-park home run for the home team at Target Field.

It was instructive to again see the wheels that Nunez — 29 later this month and in his 13th professional season — carries on the bases. He had his traditional loss of helmet as he started to make the turn at second base.

Nunez was well short of third when third base coach Gene Glynn started giving the wheel to head for home. Glynn might as well, because Eduardo was flying and there’s no way he was going to pass on the chance for the inside-the-parker.

First ever? “Yes,” Nunez said.

Not even the minors? “No.”

Not in your life? “No.”

No, as in yes, Nunez’s first inside-the-parker.

Nunez later had a single. He’s now batting .331. His career high for big-league at-bats was 309 with the Yankees in 2011, and he had 304 two years later. He now has 169 at-bats for the Twins — third on the team — with two-thirds of the season remaining.

Nunez is an adventure in the field … always has been, always will be.

He also can hit and he can run, particularly when helmet-free. If Eduardo keeps leading off and getting seven or eight hits a week, he will make a fine All-Star for the Twins.

Sore back postpones Gibson's expected return to Twins

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | June 3, 2016

Kyle Gibson wanted to take the ball Thursday, and he did. But he never left the Target Field bullpen.

Gibson was ready to make his first appearance since April 22 in the first game of a four-game series against Tampa Bay, but soreness on the right side of his lower back prompted the Twins to delay his return.

So Gibson threw 40 pitches in the bullpen instead. If he doesn’t have any further complications, he likely will head to Class AAA Rochester to make one rehabilitation start before returning to the club.

Gibson landed on the disabled list in April because of a sore right shoulder. The Twins’ main concern was what would happen if Gibson’s back gives him trouble and he compensates by putting more pressure on his nearly healed shoulder.

“We had it checked out,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “Nothing major. It is one of those things where he feels it when he is sitting or driving for a long period of time, things like that.”

Then Molitor joked, “The next time he pitches, he might have to stand between innings.”

In the end, Gibson understood. He even pointed out that starting and then exiting a game early puts the bullpen in a tough spot. The safe call is to make sure he’s healthy.

“The training staff and Mollie and [GM Terry Ryan] talked some sense into me because I wanted to pitch,” Gibson said. “It’s something I don’t want to mess with.”

Gibson began experiencing stiffness Monday after working out. The stiffness returned Tuesday as he traveled to the Twin Cities. By Wednesday the discomfort had worsened, with pain shooting down his legs.

Gibson’s treatment, which included working with a massage therapist, has helped him feel better.

“We don’t think this is anything major,” Ryan said.

The Twins want to make sure Gibson, who is 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA, has enough endurance to throw 90 pitches in a game before he’s activated.

Corrigan released

Longtime Twins scout Larry Corrigan, who suffered a stroke May 6 while working at a Texas League game, was released from a Little Rock, Ark., hospital and returned to his home in Illinois. Corrigan still faces a lengthy rehabilitation to treat some paralysis on his right side.

“[Thursday] I talked to him and that’s the best I’ve heard him,” Ryan said.

Perkins’ progress

Closer Glen Perkins, out since the first week of the season because of shoulder soreness, is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Saturday. Ryan, however, wasn’t ready to set a timetable for Perkins’ return,

“I’m going bullpen by bullpen,” Ryan said. “He’s been out quite a while.”

Perkins likely will throw a few more bullpen sessions before the Twins send him on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Then Perkins will need a few weeks — basically another spring training — to pitch in games and get sharp. Even though Perkins can come off the DL next week, he’s going to be out much longer.

Etc.

• With Byron Buxton and Max Kepler in the majors, there’s a shortage of outfielders at Class AAA Rochester. So the Twins signed former major leaguer Logan Schafer to a minor league deal and assigned him to the Red Wings. Schafer was in spring training with the Nationals but was reassigned March 14 and granted a release two days later. Schafer, 29, was playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League when the Twins signed him.

Minnesota Twins collect several firsts in beating Tampa Bay Rays

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 2, 2016

It was a fun night of firsts at Target Field.

From Max Kepler driving in the first two runs of his big-league career to Byung Ho Park’s first three-hit game to Taylor Rogers’ first big-league victory, the Twins made their share of memories in Thursday’s 6-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

In snapping a three-game losing streak with their first June victory, the Twins banged out a season-high 15 hits and rode another first when shortstop Eduardo Nunez started the game with an inside-the-park homer off the glove of a leaping Brandon Guyer at the right-field wall. 4

Third-base coach Gene Glynn lulled the Rays with a back-door signal that took advantage of first baseman Logan Morrison’s relay throw.

“Really fun,” Nunez said. “If you see the video, I was slowing down. When I saw Geno say keep going, I said, ‘Oh, my God. I have to keep going.’”

For Nunez it was his 24th career homer and his 10th at Target Field but his first inside-the-parker. It was the 50th inside-the-park homer for the Twins — the last one coming by Kurt Suzuki on May 20, 2014, at San Diego — but their first at Target Field.

As he made a headfirst slide across the plate, a beaming Nunez slapped both palms onto the dirt. What was he thinking at that moment?

“I made it!” he said. “I was so tired. I didn’t want to run anymore at that point.”

Three opponents have inside-the-park homers since Target Field opened in 2010. The last one was by Detroit catcher James McCann on April 29, 2015.

Eric Young Jr., then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, had the majors’ last inside-the-park leadoff homer Aug. 8, 2012, against Colorado. The last leadoff inside-the-parker in franchise history was by former Washington Senators second baseman Al Kozar on July 26, 1949, against the Detroit Tigers.

“It’s an uncommon part of the game, and those things usually are exciting,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “Thankfully one of our fast guys hit it.”

In sending the Rays to their 11th loss in their past 13 games, the Twins overcame a 2-for-13 showing with runners in scoring position. Both hits came off the lefty bat of Kepler, recalled from Triple-A on Wednesday after Miguel Sano strained his left hamstring in Oakland.

Kepler’s ringing double off Rays lefty Matt Moore sparked a two-run fourth. Byron Buxton drove home the other run with his first career sacrifice fly.

Park doubled twice, singled and walk in four trips. Kepler scored him with a one-out single in the seventh off another lefty, reliever Xavier Cedeno.

Earlier, the Twins got a game-tying homer in the fifth from Brian Dozier and the go-ahead hit batsman when Dozier got plunked on the left hand with the bases loaded in the sixth.

Rogers, the rookie left-hander, replaced struggling starter Phil Hughes after Evan Longoria’s go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth. While Hughes was yanked at just 64 pitches without recording an out in the fifth, Rogers (1-0) rattled off six quick outs on just 18 pitches.

“I’m just trying to keep it simple,” Rogers said. “Get ahead of batters and just try to throw up zeros.”

While fellow lefty Pat Dean was treated to a postgame shower that included barbecue sauce after his first big-league win last Friday in Seattle, Rogers’ teammates broke out the tomato sauce for him.

“A little different,” Rogers said. “That was a great experience, something I’ll never forget. A fun night.”

Kevin Jepsen, acquired last July 31 from the Rays, worked the ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances.

Joe Mauer’s infield single in the eighth gave him 1,750 hits for his career, moving him past Kent Hrbek into fourth place on the Twins’ all-time list.

“We haven’t strung hits together very well overall,” Molitor said. “Runners in scoring position, bases-loaded situations, you can look at the numbers and they haven’t been very good. That’s been the downfall in a lot of close games that we’ve lost.”

Even on a night when the Twins produced two homers, Molitor was more pleased to see them bang out at least one hit in all eight offensive innings, scoring in five of them.

“It’s nice when you can put together, not just hits, but good at-bats,” Molitor said. “You find a way to put a crooked number up there. The home runs are nice, but I don’t really like to be the kind of team that relies on that. I’d rather have flow.” 5

Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson dealing with sciatic nerve issue

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | June 2, 2016

After missing six weeks with an ailing right shoulder, Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson will have to wait a little longer to make his return.

Originally scheduled to start Thursday at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, Gibson was scratched after experiencing pain in his lower back and right leg that was traced to a sciatic nerve problem. Fellow right-hander Phil Hughes, demoted to bullpen duty during the recent road trip, started in place of Gibson.

Gibson, who threw a 40-pitch bullpen without complication on Thursday, appears headed for another rehab start, this time at Triple-A Rochester. The Red Wings are home Monday and Tuesday.

“Just a bad combination, especially coming off the shoulder issue,” Gibson said. “I’m compensating, taking pressure off my legs and adding it to my shoulder.”

Gibson dealt with pain in his lower back and left hip area for stretches of the past two seasons, but regular sessions with a chiropractor helped him manage the problem. His back wasn’t mentioned as an issue in April, when he went 0-3 with a 6.10 earned-run average in four starts.

He landed on the disabled list a few days after getting rocked for seven earned runs in three innings April 22 at the Washington Nationals. Gibson later explained he felt an odd sensation in the top of his throwing shoulder while making a pitch in the first inning of that start.

Gibson, 28, had no issues during two recent rehab starts for Class A Fort Myers. He posted a 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 combined innings for the Miracle, including a start on May 27 with Twins general manager Terry Ryan in attendance.

According to Gibson, his back began to tighten up Monday evening after throwing a bullpen. He flew back to the Twin Cities on Tuesday, and by Wednesday the condition had worsened.

“Disappointing news,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We had it checked out, and it’s nothing major. I think he feels it more when he’s sitting for long periods of time and driving. Next time he pitches he might have to stand in between innings or something.”

That’s a concession Gibson had to make multiple times in the past two seasons.

“It’s just something you don’t want to mess with,” he said. “You don’t want to add another recurring shoulder injury.”

Hughes was removed from the rotation after going 1-7 with a 5.74 ERA in 10 starts. After opening his year with four straight quality starts, Hughes dealt with shoulder fatigue and slumped to a 7.39 ERA and a .336 batting average allowed over his next six starts.

His last start came on Saturday in Seattle, where he failed to complete five innings for the fourth time in six tries.

SAY IT RIGHT

Asked the proper way to pronounce his last name, Twins backup catcher Juan Centeno smiled.

There is no tilde over the “N.” Rather it’s a hard “N.”

“They’re always saying Cen-TAYN-yo,” said the native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. “That’s not right. It’s Cen-TEN-o.”

By any name, Centeno has been productive since his promotion on May 6. He entered Thursday’s play hitting .320 in 25 at-bats against right- handers, giving the Twins a viable platoon option with starting catcher Kurt Suzuki.

BRIEFLY

Right fielder Miguel Sano, on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, underwent an MRI after returning to the Twin Cities. The results were not immediately available.

Closer Glen Perkins (shoulder) is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday. After a recent setback, Perkins has worked back out to 120 feet in 6 his throwing program. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said it would likely take multiple side sessions before Perkins would head out on a rehab assignment.

Outfielder Logan Schafer (no relation to ex-Twin Jordan Schafer) was signed to a minor league deal and assigned to Triple-A Rochester. A former third-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers, Schafer has a career .212 batting average in 646 big-league plate appearances (all with the Brewers) from 2011-15.

A recent MRI on Triple-A right-hander Alex Meyer’s throwing shoulder confirmed a diagnosis of mild inflammation. Meyer threw his most recent bullpen on May 26. He last appeared in a game on May 3 at Houston but has yet to be placed on the Red Wings’ seven-day disabled list.

Twins scout Larry Corrigan, who suffered a stroke while on assignment in early May, was released Thursday from a Little Rock, Ark., hospital. Corrigan, who still has issues on his right side and with his speech, will continue his rehab at home in Illinois.

The Twins held a moment of silence before Thursday’s game in honor of former University of Minnesota pitching coach Todd Oakes, who died May 26 of leukemia.

Twins unleash 15-hit attack in win over Rays

Rhett Bollinger and Bill Chastain | MLB.com | June 3, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- Eduardo Nunez's leadoff inside-the-park homer was a sign of things to come for the Twins, as they pounded out a season-high 15 hits in a 6-4 win over the Rays on Thursday night at Target Field.

Nunez's homer came in the first off Rays lefty Matt Moore, while Brian Dozier smacked a solo homer in the fifth and had two RBIs. Byung Ho Park had his first three-hit game in the Majors, scoring two runs, while fellow rookie Max Kepler drove in the first two runs of his career. All nine Twins batters had at least one hit, while the bottom five hitters in the order combined to go 10-for-19 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

"It was great to have a game like that offensively," Nunez said. "We haven't had a lot of games like that this year. Hopefully that starts today with a game like that. I think we were more comfortable after the bad series in Oakland. We just wanted to turn the page and do our thing."

Evan Longoria paced the offense for the Rays with an RBI single in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth that knocked Twins right-hander Phil Hughes from the game. Logan Morrison also had an RBI single in the third.

Hughes, who started on short notice after Kyle Gibson was scratched, lasted four-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Moore also struggled, surrendering four runs on eight hits and two walks in five innings. Lefty Taylor Rogers picked up the win for the Twins with two scoreless frames in relief of Hughes. Closer Kevin Jepsen picked up the save against his former team with a scoreless ninth.

"I don't really know what to say," said Rays manager Kevin Cash after his team lost for the seventh time in eight games. "We're just going to continue to battle. We're in a tough spot right now. We're trying to grind through it and it's just not happening right now."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Nunez makes history: Nunez became the first Twins player to hit an inside-the-park homer at Target Field and the 50th to do it in franchise history. He was also the first Twins player to lead off the first with an inside-the-parker since the franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961. The last player in the Majors to do it was Eric Young Jr. in 2012. Nunez ran the bases in 15.23 seconds, which was the fastest time recorded by Statcast™ this year.

"I never thought about the homer," Nunez said. "I was looking for third all the way. If you look at the video, I was slowing down. But when I saw [third-base coach Gene Glynn], I thought, 'Oh my God. I need to get going.' But I never thought about it being a homer."

"The play in the first, that's an error," Cash said of Nunez's home run. "Nothing on [right-fielder] Brandon Guyer, he's grinding it out, but that's an error. He's got to make that play."

Longo hot: Longoria went 6-for-12 with three doubles during the Rays' three-game stop in Kansas City. He kept his foot on the accelerator Thursday night against the Twins with an RBI single in the third and a two-run homer -- his 10th of the season, in the fifth.

Dozier hits one out, gets hit: Dozier tied the score with a solo blast to left in the fifth off Moore for his sixth homer of the year, and his first since May 25. He came up to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth after the Rays opted to intentionally walk Joe Mauer and was hit by a pitch to give the Twins the lead.

Ramirez continues to struggle: Erasmo Ramirez had been the Rays' early-season MVP, helping the team escape one jam after the next. Seemingly he could do no wrong. On Thursday night, he started the sixth inning with the score tied at 4 and he allowed a go-ahead run. The outing could have been worse had he not been rescued by an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play with the bases loaded. Ramirez's last nine appearances tell the story of magic lost. In eight of those appearances, the righty gave up runs. All told, he allowed 11 earned runs in 12 innings for an 8.25 ERA.

QUOTABLE

"It was fun. It was a good experience. It's something I'll never forget. No BBQ [sauce] this time, I think it was tomato. But it was a fun night." -- Rogers, who received a tomato sauce shower from his teammates after getting his first big league win

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Moore was lifted after the fifth inning. Since returning from Tommy John surgery on July 2, 2015, the left-hander has pitched five innings or fewer 14 times in 23 starts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rays: Jake Odorizzi (2-3, 3.36 ERA) will try and keep things simple when he makes his 12th start of the season on Friday against the Twins at 8:10 p.m. ET. The right-hander didn't try to do too much against the Yankees on Sunday and had his best performance of the season in taking a 2-1 loss.

Twins: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 5.28) is set to start against the Rays on Friday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Nolasco is coming off a solid outing, as he limited the Mariners to two runs over six innings, while also showing his best fastball velocity of the season.

Nunez delivers inside-the-park HR for Twins

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | June 3, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- After going homerless in their three-game sweep at the hands of the A's, the Twins homered in a hurry against the Rays in a 6-4 win on Thursday night, and it came in an unconventional way.

Eduardo Nunez led off the first inning with an inside-the-park home run against Rays lefty Matt Moore to give the Twins an early lead. It was the first inside-the-park homer for a Twins player in Target Field history and the first of Nunez's career. It was also the 50th inside-the-park homer in franchise history, and the first since Kurt Suzuki hit one on May 20, 2014, in San Diego.

Nunez added he couldn't help but break out into a big smile as he slid headfirst into home because it was his first career inside-the-park homer at any level, including when he was a kid.

"I thought, 'I made it!'" Nunez said. "I was just so tired, I didn't want to run anymore at that point."

Nunez's inside-the-parker came on an 0-1 fastball from Moore and right fielder Brandon Guyer couldn't handle the deep drive to right, as it went off his glove while Nunez raced around the bases and scored easily. Nunez ran the bases in 15.23 seconds, which was the fastest time this season, per Statcast™. Miami's Dee Gordon holds the record for fastest time around the bases in the Statcast™ era at 14.24 seconds. Statcast™ also had the ball leaving Nunez's bat at 94 mph.

When told of his time around the bases, Nunez said he might've beat Gordon's record if he ran hard all the way.

"If I didn't slow down, then maybe," Nunez said with a smile. 8

It was the sixth homer of the year for Nunez and his second career leadoff homer. It was also the first time in Minnesota history a Twins player opened the first with an inside-the-parker. The last to do it in franchise history was the Senators' Al Kozar on July 26, 1949. And the last to do it in the Majors was Eric Young Jr. on Aug. 8, 2012.

"It's an uncommon play in the game and those things are exciting, especially when you can begin a ballgame like that," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "You saw the guy going back and he had to deal with the overhang, and the sun was still probably a factor. It ricocheted into the corner and luckily one of our fast guys hit it."

Rays manager Kevin Cash had a different take on the play, as he thought it should've been ruled an error on Guyer.

"The play in the first, that's an error," Cash said. "Nothing on Brandon Guyer, he's grinding it out, but that's an error. He's got to make that play."

Twins' bottom of order makes big contribution

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | June 3, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- While Eduardo Nunez's leadoff inside-the-park homer and Brian Dozier's game-tying homer in the fifth were the most memorable plays on Thursday night, it was the bottom of the order that helped the Twins to a season-best 15 hits in a 6-4 win over the Rays at Target Field.

The last five hitters in the lineup combined to go 10-for-19 with three RBIs and three runs scored to help the offense wake up after scoring a combined seven runs in a three-game sweep at the hands of the A's. Robbie Grossman stayed hot, picking up two hits, while Byung Ho Park had a career-high three hits and Max Kepler picked up the first two RBIs of his career. Kurt Suzuki added two hits, while Byron Buxton executed a perfect hit-and-run and had a sacrifice fly.

"A lot of guys had good nights with the bats," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It was nice to see Max get a couple big hits, Dozier with the homer. Grossman keeps finding ways to get hits. It was a lot of contributions from a lot of people."

Molitor said he was pleased to see Park's hard work pay off, as he had been working on his swing to get out of his recent slump. Park had hit .093 over his previous 12 games. And despite a strikeout with two runners on in the seventh, Buxton looked comfortable at the plate and is 3- for-11 since getting called up on Saturday.

"There's nothing like getting feedback with a three-hit night," Molitor said. "Kurt had a nice hit and Buxton got a run in, and had a hit-and-run single. It's been three games, but he's holding his own."

It was just the 18th time this season the Twins logged double-digit hits, as they saw all nine batters record at least one hit. Nunez, who went 2- for-5 and led the way his inside-the-parker, said he's hopeful it'll be a sign of the offense turning it around.

Molitor was more cautious about calling it a potential spark, as he knows his club has been inconsistent. But with 16 of their next 19 games at home, he's cautiously optimistic the Twins will start playing better baseball.

"We've talked about that a lot in the first couple months to hopefully find something that propels us in a more consistent fashion," Molitor said. "I'd like to think that might happen because I try to stay positive. You have to start with one and tonight was a good win."

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Hughes subs unsuccessfully, Kepler’s first RBIs, Buxton’s approach

Derek Wetmore | 1500 ESPN | June 2, 2016

1. Change of plans: Kyle Gibson was scheduled to start but a stiff back forced the Twins to change course and start Phil Hughes instead.

Gibson was supposed to come off the disabled list Thursday to pitch, but after he had lower back pain – down “in the sciatic area,” he said – the Twins are giving thought to making Gibson pitch one more rehab start. The current plan is to have him pitch in Triple-A Rochester, and then possibly rejoin the Twins.

Hughes had a rough outing Thursday. He gave up 4 earned runs on 8 hits in 4 innings before he was pulled in the top of the 5th inning. Through his first 4 innings he’d given up a pair of runs, but then he allowed a single to lead off the 5th inning and then Evan Longoria hit a middle-of-the- plate cut fastball out of the park to give the Rays a 4-3 lead.

“Stuff wasn’t good,” Hughes said. “If you don’t have good stuff and you leave [pitches] over the plate, stuff like that’s going to happen.”

“I have to explore every avenue to try to figure out what I can do to be better because I just haven’t been so far,” Hughes said.

Hughes originally had been bumped to the bullpen to make room for Gibson. If he had hung around in the rotation, Hughes would have likely made Wednesday’s start. Instead, he pitched Thursday when Gibson was unable to go.

“It’s almost comical that when you tell a guy he’s going to the bullpen to stay ready and work hard, you never know when you’re going to get another shot,” Molitor said before the game. “He only had to wait one extra day.”

Hughes had been yanked from the rotation after posting a 1-7 record with a 5.74 ERA. He’d given up at least one earned run in all 10 of his starters to that point and had also allowed at least 3 earned runs in 8 of his 10 starts.

Make that 9 of his 11 starts.

Molitor called it a “spot start” for Hughes, and said that he’ll decide between having Hughes pitch again or using Monday’s off day as a way to skip his spot in the rotation. Pat Dean will pitch Tuesday after the off day, Molitor said, and then the manager would have the choice of going back to Hughes or starting Ricky Nolasco on Wednesday on his normal rest schedule.

2. Eduardo Nunez got the Twins scoring started with a leadoff inside-the-park home run, the first of his baseball-playing life, he said.

That sparked a season-high 15 hits for the Twins. It was the first leadoff inside-the-parker in Twins history, according to STATS INC, and the first at any time in Target Field history.

Nunez added another hit in the 3rd inning, and continues to be a surprising and shining bright spot in an otherwise drab season for the Twins. He’s now hitting .331/.358/.509, and has fans talking about the possibility that he’ll be the Twins’ representative in the all-star game.

I’m not sure anyone had that prediction nailed in spring training.

3. Max Kepler got a fastball to his liking with runners on first and second base in the 4th inning, and he lined it to right field for a double and his first RBI in the Major Leagues.

Later, he struck out on five pitches, and four of those pitches were curve balls from lefty Matt Moore.

In his final plate appearance, Kepler lined a first-pitch curve ball through the right side of the infield to plate Byung Ho Park from second base.

In my opinion, Kepler is the kind of prospect that would have had more attention paid to him if he hadn’t played in the same organization as Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Those guys topped the prospect lists, but Kepler, 23, has strong potential, too. I’m not saying he’s in the same class of prospect as those two players, but the numbers he posted on the way to an MVP season in Double-A Chattanooga last year were awfully impressive.

It sounds like he’s going to get an extended look in the big leagues for the first time, after he mostly sat on the bench in his first two stints with the Twins. My hunch is we’ll see him nearly every day in right field for a couple weeks. Once Miguel Sano is healthy, the Twins might have some 10 interesting decisions on their hands.

Last season Kepler got his first MLB hit after earning a call-up in September. After the game, the media had already entered the clubhouse to interview players when manager Paul Molitor put a pause on the daily routine to recognize Kepler in front of most of his teammates and the collection of media. It was a relatively rare moment, as those are often conducted in front of the team only.

Kepler said later that he intended to keep the ball Molitor presented him and take it around with him. I don’t know what he’ll do with the baseball from his first RBI, but I do know that if he develops into the type of player that some people with the Twins think he can become then it will merely be the first of many.

4. Byung Ho Park reached base four times Thursday, with two doubles a single and a walk. Park entered the game in a cold spell, and his batting line had fallen to .211/.297/.447.

With 9 home runs, his power had been a pleasant early surprise for the Twins, but he was stuck in a 4-for-43 rut that he couldn’t seem to shake.

He shook it Thursday. He hit a couple balls hard and had two extra base hits to show for it, and scored two of the Twins’ six runs, including scoring from third base on Byron Buxton’s sacrifice fly to the outfield. One of his doubles went to the opposite field and the other carried to the base of the wall in center.

“He works hard,” Molitor said of Park. “He knows his swing, he’s trying to make adjustments to get him a little more consistent over here, and there’s nothing like getting feedback with a three-hit night.”

5. Byron Buxton had an RBI sacrifice fly and a single Thursday. Before the game, he outlined a new approach at the plate, which includes a bit of a change in his mechanics (a pronounced front leg lift) and the way he visualizes his at-bats.

Buxton said he now walks to the plate looking to hit a hard ground ball or line drive to the second baseman. That allows his hands to take a quick path to the ball, and it also allows him to cover more pitches throughout the strike zone, manager Paul Molitor said.

After the Twins demoted him to Triple-A Rochester, Buxton found almost instant success at the plate. He batted .336/.403/.603 with 17 extra base hits in 29 games at Triple-A, before Danny Santana’s injury opened the door for Buxton’s return to the big leagues.

“Different guys have different ways to envision how to keep themselves on the ball a little bit better,” Molitor said.

New approach? Why Byron Buxton is visualizing hits to the second baseman

Derek Wetmore | 1500 ESPN | June 2, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS – Byron Buxton walked into the right-handed batters box during batting practice Thursday at Target Field to take his swings against assistant hitting coach Rudy Hernandez. On the first pitch he hit a line drive to where the second baseman might be standing in a game. Next pitch, same result. On the third offering from Hernandez, Buxton smoked a line drive straight up the middle of the diamond to center field.

Evidently, these swings weren’t an accident, either. It’s all part of Buxton’s approach at the plate that he says yielded good results in the minor leagues, and that he hopes will pay dividends now that he’s back in the lineup for the Twins.

Buxton is now using a more exaggerated leg kick than the last time he was with the Twins. As he tracks the pitcher on the mound, he loads his weight onto his back (right) leg, and lifts his left leg, in part as a timing mechanism and also, he said, to help him stay focused on the pitch.

“My approach is just try to hit a hard groundball to second base,” Buxton said before batting practice Thursday. “That helps me keep my hands through the ball and helps me see the ball a little bit longer.”

Buxton has hit an impressive .336/.403/.603 with 17 extra base hits in 29 games this season for Triple-A Rochester. He also drew 26 walks and cut down on his strikeouts – swinging and missing was a big reason the Twins had to send him back down to the minor leagues in the first place. After striking out about half the time with the Twins earlier this year, Buxton cut that down to about 1 in 5 plate appearances with the Red Wings.

The leg kick looks different and apparently the Twins’ top prospect is conceptualizing his plate appearances a little differently now, too. Manager Paul Molitor said that imaging a hard ground ball or line drive to the second baseman could be beneficial for Buxton for more reasons than one.

“Different guys have different ways to envision how to keep themselves on the ball a little bit better,” Molitor said.

Molitor said that a frequent topic of conversation with hitters is the “contact point past the actual contact point.” Molitor was referring to the continuation of a swing, instead of cutting off the swinging motion immediately at the point of contact. He said that for Buxton, envisioning a ball carry off his bat as a line drive to second base or over the second baseman’s head is a way to further cement the approach, both mentally and physically.

“It’s not that far removed from something I used to try to do,” Molitor said, “when I would try to imagine almost every situation like I had a guy on second base with nobody out. It doesn’t mean I wanted to hit a weak grounder to second, but I wanted to try to use the field from the shortstop over and hopefully if there was an offspeed mistake, I could still do damage.

“It’s just kind of a mindset. It’s kind of where you’re looking. It takes discipline to execute it because things get fast, especially when you get behind in counts. But it was working down there [in the minor leagues] for him,” Molitor said.

That mindset came from a bunch of people, Buxton said, but he named Twins hitting coach Tom Brunansky, Red Wings hitting coach Chad Allen and Chattanooga Lookouts manager Doug Mientkiewicz as three people that encouraged him to think about hitting the ball hard to (or through) the second baseman.

“Generally not too many hitters are going to be looking at the left field corner,” Molitor said. “It’s just not the way to hit. You’ve got to look out to where you just try to cover as many pitches as you can.”

In other words, if a hitter is gunning to hit the ball to left field as a right-handed hitter and the pitcher paints the black on the outside corner of the strike zone with a fastball, it’s an uphill battle for the hitter to try to drive that pitch to the left field corner. But if he’s looking to hit that same pitch up the middle – or, like Buxton, to the second baseman — it could be a more manageable task.

“I don’t want to overly judge. I just want to kind of leave him alone and let some of the things that he’s worked on and the confidence he’s built just continue to get extended up here. He looks comfortable up there, I’ll give him that,” Molitor said. “He’s just got to trust it and go with it and see how it works out.”

In his first two games back with the Twins, Buxton hit a single and a double and struck out three times in eight plate appearances. His biggest value to the Twins right now is as an elite fielder in the middle of the outfield, but if he starts hitting in the Majors the way he has at other stops in the minor leagues, the Twins would have a 22-year-old all-around imposing player on their hands.

Perhaps the new mindset and swing mechanics will help him realize the talents that have had scouts excited about his potential since before he was drafted in 2012.

“Once you get that first hit to right field you kind of feel better and feel in the zone,” Buxton said.

Twins bullpen locks up 6-4 win over reeling Rays

Associated Press | June 2, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota's 10-game homestand started fast with a leadoff inside-the-park home run by Eduardo Nunez. Buoyed by a season- high 15 hits for the Twins, the bullpen finished strong.

That elusive winning formula, for once, was fully in grasp.

Byung Ho Park went a career-best 3 for 3, Max Kepler picked up his first two major league RBI and four Twins relievers combined for five scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory over the reeling Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

"We're looking for anything to continue to stay hot," said Nunez, who provided a spark so unique the franchise has never had one since moving to Minnesota in 1961. His leadoff inside-the-park homer was the first in the majors since 2012, too. 12

Right fielder Brandon Guyer, fighting the evening shadows and setting sun, jumped for Nunez's drive at the warning track. The ball bounced off his glove into the corner, and Nunez dived into home with a bare-head-first slide and a big smile. His helmet had fallen off between first and second, where it often does. Expecting the stop sign from third-base coach Gene Glynn, Nunez had to pick up the pace for the final turn but still scored easily.

"I was like, `Oh, my God. I have to get going," said Nunez, the utility infielder who has quietly been making a case to be the team's All-Star game representative with a .331 batting average and an .867 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

Both Guyer and Rays manager Kevin Cash didn't believe Nunez should have even been credited with his first career inside-the-park home run, though.

"That's an error," Cash said. "We've got to make that play."

Regardless of the ruling, the Twins (16-37) recovered smoothly from a rocky start by Phil Hughes that ended with a two-run homer by Evan Longoria in the fifth that put the Rays up 4-3.

Taylor Rogers (1-0) struck out two over two perfect innings for his first major league victory. Ryan Pressly and Brandon Kintzler followed with scoreless frames, and former Rays right-hander Kevin Jepsen worked the ninth for his seventh save in 10 tries.

"It was a nice team win, but I have to figure out what's going on," said Hughes, who was removed from the rotation last weekend but never pitched in relief. The Twins scratched Kyle Gibson from this start because of a stiff back, but after this Hughes could find himself in the bullpen again.

Hughes allowed eight hits, four runs and one walk. In 11 starts this year, he has completed seven innings only once and given up two runs or fewer just twice.

The Rays have lost five straight games and 11 of their past 13. They had only one hit after Hughes was removed with no outs in the fifth.

Matt Moore misfired in his chance to win consecutive starts for the first time this season for the Rays, but reliever Erasmo Ramirez (6-4) took the loss after hitting Brian Dozier on the elbow with the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

Moore finished five innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks while striking out four. After posting a 7.36 ERA over five May starts, Moore was unhappy about being taken out after 96 pitches.

"I felt like I still had more work to go out there," said Moore, who has logged five innings or fewer in 14 of his 23 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery last summer.

Dozier homered off Moore, and the fifth through ninth batters for the Twins combined for 10 hits in 19 at-bats. Joe Mauer had one, too, giving him 1,750 for his career to pass Kent Hrbek for fourth place on the team's all-time list.

"The home runs are nice. I don't really like to be the kind of team that relies on that," manager Paul Molitor said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: 2B Steve Pearce was on the bench for the second straight game because of a sore right elbow. His status is day to day.

Twins: RHP Glen Perkins will throw a bullpen session Saturday. He's missed the past 46 games because of left shoulder trouble.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (2-3, 3.36 ERA) will take the mound Friday, fresh from one of his best starts of the season despite a loss to the Yankees.

Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 3.93 ERA) will take his turn Friday.