NewsRelaxed Tolbert contributes to charge
Minnesota (80-73) at Kansas City (63-91), 6:10 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
09/26/09 2:45 AM ET
KANSAS CITY -- There has undoubtedly been a spark for the Twins over the last week and a half as the club has gone 10-1 in its last 11 contests. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire credits part of that spark to the play of Matt Tolbert. Tolbert has been in the lineup on a more frequent basis at third base and Gardenhire said it has a lot to do with the way he's been playing. "I just like his energy," Gardenhire said. "I like the way he goes out and plays. He can bunt. He can hit-and-run. And he's been putting some really good swings on [the ball]. He's all over defensively out there. He moves very well. That's what we were looking for -- getting a little more energy out there. He's brought that. "We've been around .500 for a long time. We looked for a little different style and energy and we got it. He's a part of it." Tolbert has brought more than energy during the Twins' recent impressive run. He's been hitting better in his second stint with the club this season as well. Since entering Sept. 11 with a .178 batting average, Tolbert has gone 13-for-37 (.351) with a double, a home run and four RBIs. "I know he was struggling," Gardenhire said of Tolbert, whose last plate appearance before Sept. 11 came on July 11 before he was sent down to Triple-A Rochester. "Mentally, he was beating himself up. That's more the reason why we sent him down than anything else, because he was fighting it. On the field, he was still playing and he was hitting balls hard, just at people. He had no luck earlier in the year." Minnesota is hoping Tolbert's luck at the plate will continue. Using Tolbert's energy and that of others in the lineup during the recent hot streak, the club has pulled within two games of the first-place Tigers in the American League Central with nine games left to play. Before heading to Detroit to face the Tigers in a four-game series beginning Monday, the Twins will have to try to finish taking care of business in Kansas City. They have two contests remaining and they are well aware that none of them can be overlooked. "Those guys play spoilers better than anybody," Twins second baseman Nick Punto said of the Royals. "They play September baseball just as good as anyone. To get the first one is huge, but right now, we need every win. So we have to come back [Saturday] and do the same thing. Pitching matchupMIN: RHP Scott Baker (13-9, 4.43 ERA)
One rough inning Sunday against Detroit was all it took for Baker to pick up his second loss in his last three starts. Baker gave up three runs to the Tigers in the fifth inning, and he and the Twins were unable to complete a series sweep. Baker left after 4 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while picking up five strikeouts. In two starts this season against the Royals, Baker is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA. He hasn't faced Kansas City since June 30. He picked up the win while allowing one run in that game. KC: LHP Lenny DiNardo (0-1, 8.22 ERA)
This will be DiNardo's fourth start since being called up from Triple-A Omaha. In his last outing, he bulled his way through five innings and 116 pitches, most in his Major League career. The Royals stuck with him to save the bullpen even though the Red Sox scored eight runs on 10 hits against him. In rainy conditions, DiNardo issued six walks but, after all that, Kansas City rallied to win. He's faced the Twins twice in his career, posting an 0-1 record but a 2.08 ERA. Tidbits
TV play-by-play broadcaster Dick Bremer will miss the next two Twins telecasts, going home for son Erik's confirmation. ... Gardenhire said that everything went well with Joe Crede's back surgery on Friday. Crede is no longer feeling any pain in his legs after the fluid impinging on his sciatic nerve from a herniated disk was removed. Gardenhire was not sure whether or not Crede would rejoin the club before the end of the season, but Crede said before leaving the club that he hoped to do so. ... Catcher Joe Mauer was named to the Sporting News' All-Decade Team on Thursday. Among the other players selected to the team were first baseman Albert Pujols, shortstop Derek Jeter, third baseman Alex Rodriguez and designated hitter David Ortiz. ... Denard Span returned to the lineup on Friday night after missing two games due to getting hit in the back of the helmet with a pitch Monday in Chicago. Span went 2-for-4 with a run scored in his first contest back. Tickets
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• Sunday: Twins (Francisco Liriano, 5-12, 5.75) at Royals (Zack Greinke, 15-8, 2.08), 1:10 p.m. CT
• Monday: Twins (Nick Blackburn, 11-11, 4.18) at Tigers (Rick Porcello, 14-9, 4.14), 6:05 p.m. CT
• Tuesday: Twins (Brian Duensing, 5-1, 3.33) at Tigers (Justin Verlander, 17-9, 3.41), 6:05 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.
