The big news of the week was Francisco Liriano’s demotion to AAA Rochester, which came as no surprise after his 3rd start of the season lasted just 2/3rds of an inning. However, the biggest problem for this team this year (and all of last year) was it’s offense.

Michael Cuddyer finally returned to the lineup on Friday night against Texas. Curiously, he was batting fifth in the lineup rather than in the 3rd spot where he started the season. Hopefully it was a temporary thing and he’ll find his way back to #3 in the lineup. It’s much more sensible to move Joe Mauer to the #2 spot with Cuddyer splitting up the lefties Mauer and Justin Morneau.

Carlos Gomez left the game early with a strained calf muscle after running out a bunt. After a horrible stretch he has two mult-hit games in a row, although Friday night’s hits were both off bunts.

Justin Morneau provided all of the offensive production for the Twins on Friday night. He gave them a quick lead in the first with a single that drove in Gomez. He padded the 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning with a no-out Grand Slam. However, Nick Blackburn got roughed up in the bottom of that inning and gave back all of the 5-run lead.

Outside of the third inning, Blackburn pitched effectively. He scattered the remainder of Texas’s hits, and for guy that pitches to contact, that’s his only way of success. He allowed a total of 11 hits and 1 walk in 6 complete innings.

Matt Guerrier, Dennys Reyes and Pat Neshek pitched effectively for 3 inings, allowing only 2 baserunners combined. However, the Rangers finally broke the tie in the 10th inning with a double and a single off Juan Rincon. After improving their record back to the .500 mark, the Twins have now dropped 3 straight games.

Roster Moves

In the past couple days the Twins have recalled Michael Cuddyer and sent Denard Span back down to make room for him. Liriano was replaced by right-handed reliever Bobby Korecky, who has been the closer in Rochester. That leaves the Twins short one starter. With 2 off days next week and another on the following Monday, the Twins can get by with a 4-man rotation until early May. At that point it seems likely that they’d replace Brian Bass with Kevin Slowey, who should be ready to return from the DL. Of course they could quickly send Korecky back to Rochester too when Slowey is ready.