News
Morneau trying to shake hitting slump
Minnesota (67-65) vs. Chicago (64-69), 12:10 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
09/02/09 1:32 AM ET
MINNEAPOLIS -- August was another tremendous month for Twins catcher Joe Mauer, as he put up numbers (.391 BA, 8 HR and 23 RBI) similar to his sizzling May. But for the other half of the Twins' M&M boys, the month was one that he'd rather forget. Justin Morneau hit just .220 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in August and missed six games due to a right inner-ear infection. The first baseman was plagued by dizzy spells for a stretch in the middle of the month due to the infection. Morneau said the dizziness began when the team arrived back in Minnesota following a road trip to Cleveland and Detroit. While Morneau got off to a slow start in August, his struggles at the plate seemed to intensify with his ailment. In the 15 games he's played since first noticing the ear infection, Morneau has gone 9-for-51 (.176) in 61 plate appearances. But Morneau doesn't necessarily blame his offensive scuffles on that. "It's hard to say," Morneau said. "I was struggling for whatever reason before I took that time out. Did it affect it? Who knows. I could use it as an excuse if I wanted to and say that I just wasn't swinging the bat well. I've felt fine since I got back and I haven't been swinging the bat any better. But I feel like I'm one swing away." Since returning to the lineup on Aug. 24 following a week off, Morneau said that he hasn't had any relapse of the dizziness. It took a few days for the medicine from the doctors to get rid of his vertigo, but the first baseman said once it did, he was able to feel like himself again. Morneau was been working hard on his swing since taking a little more time off than usual. While his numbers have yet to reflect it, Morneau said he's taking solace in that he's feeling like his swing is getting back on track. "I think it's the time of the year it feels it's there one at-bat and the next one it feels different," Morneau said. "So it's one of those things where you keep working at it and I always feel like I'm one good swing away from getting hot. I felt good the first two at-bats [Monday] and one forgettable at-bat the last one in that game, but for the most part, I've felt a lot better. I felt I was where I wanted to be." The Twins will be going for a series sweep when they face the White Sox for the final time at the Metrodome on Wednesday. After going 0-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday night, Morneau will see if he can deliver a better performance against White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle, although he's just 10-for-49 (.204) in his career against the southpaw. Pitching matchupMIN: LHP Brian Duensing (2-1, 4.37 ERA)
Duensing made just his third career start Friday against Texas, and it was an impressive one. The rookie left-hander went seven innings while striking out eight batters -- both of which were career highs. He surrendered just one run on three hits through seven innings as he picked up his second career win. Duensing's first career start came against the White Sox. He allowed two runs in five innings and didn't factor in the decision. CWS: LHP Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.89 ERA)
Buehrle pitched well enough to give the White Sox a chance to win on Friday against the Yankees, which is really the main point stressed by manager Ozzie Guillen at this point in the season. Buehrle gave up two runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out one and walking two, in battling CC Sabathia pretty much pitch for pitch. Buehrle still has yet to win since throwing a perfect game against the Rays on July 23, having posted an 0-4 record with a 5.77 ERA in seven starts. When Buehrle last pitched at the Metrodome, he retired the first 17 batters faced to set the Major League record of 45 straight retired. Buehrle has a 2-2 record against the Twins this season and has a career-high 23 wins against the Twins, including 10 at the Metrodome. Tidbits
Right-hander Kevin Mulvey was assigned to the D-backs on a waiver claim Tuesday, essentially making him the player to be named in Friday's trade for reliever Jon Rauch. Mulvey, who was 5-8 with a 3.93 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Rochester, was one of four players the Twins received from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade prior to the 2008 season. Mulvey was up with the Twins in July, posting a 27.00 ERA in two relief appearances. "Good kid," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Mulvey. "A guy who wasn't ready, even when we called him up here. Was kind of unsure where his pitches were going consistently. But a hard worker, [I] loved the way he went about his business." ... Alexi Casilla snapped an 0-for-15 streak with his third-inning single on Tuesday night. ... Denard Span currently has a nine-game hitting streak and he's batting .400 over that time. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Twins (Carl Pavano, 11-10, 5.11) at Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 5-9, 4.88), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Twins (Scott Baker, 12-7, 4.44) at Indians (Justin Masterson, 4-6, 4.57), 3:10 p.m. CT
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
