Contrition might have paid off for Twins outfielder Torii Hunter, who was suspended Friday for three games for throwing a ball at Cleveland pitcher Danys Baez. The consensus of many Twins was it could have been much worse.
Hunter, who leads the Twins with 23 home runs, decided not to challenge the penalty imposed by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president for on-field operations. He will begin serving the suspension today in the middle game of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
Despite going 0 for 4 Friday, Hunter is one of the Twins' hottest hitters since the all-star break, with 11 hits, including three home runs, and six runs batted in. Bobby Kielty likely will replace Hunter in center.
Mays returns tonight: Joe Mays is more anxious than nervous heading into tonight's start, his first for the Twins in more than three months.
Mays (0-2, 11.57 earned-run average) has recovered from the muscle and tendon inflammation in his right elbow that kept him out of the rotation since April 14. The 17-game winner and 2001 all-star had four minor league rehabilitation starts and was 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA.
He threw a two-hitter in seven innings in his last outing for Class AA New Britain.
"Everything felt like it was starting to come together. I wasn't holding back. I was releasing the ball naturally and I felt like I was getting the results I needed to get," said Mays, whose last major league start was in a 13-7 Twins loss to Detroit at the Metrodome.
To make room for Mays on the roster, Juan Rincon was demoted to Class AAA Edmonton. He was 0-1 with a 5.12 ERA in three starts, and was roughed up by Cleveland for six runs in three innings.
"He throws hard, but he needs to start down there and develop his changeup," Gardenhire said.
Hunter, who leads the Twins with 23 home runs, decided not to challenge the penalty imposed by Bob Watson, baseball's vice president for on-field operations. He will begin serving the suspension today in the middle game of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
Despite going 0 for 4 Friday, Hunter is one of the Twins' hottest hitters since the all-star break, with 11 hits, including three home runs, and six runs batted in. Bobby Kielty likely will replace Hunter in center.
Mays returns tonight: Joe Mays is more anxious than nervous heading into tonight's start, his first for the Twins in more than three months.
Mays (0-2, 11.57 earned-run average) has recovered from the muscle and tendon inflammation in his right elbow that kept him out of the rotation since April 14. The 17-game winner and 2001 all-star had four minor league rehabilitation starts and was 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA.
He threw a two-hitter in seven innings in his last outing for Class AA New Britain.
"Everything felt like it was starting to come together. I wasn't holding back. I was releasing the ball naturally and I felt like I was getting the results I needed to get," said Mays, whose last major league start was in a 13-7 Twins loss to Detroit at the Metrodome.
To make room for Mays on the roster, Juan Rincon was demoted to Class AAA Edmonton. He was 0-1 with a 5.12 ERA in three starts, and was roughed up by Cleveland for six runs in three innings.
"He throws hard, but he needs to start down there and develop his changeup," Gardenhire said.
