Last time right fielder Michael Cuddyer started to near a return from the disabled list, outfielder Denard Span, the player who had been called up in Cuddyer's stead, knew his time was limited.
This time, when Cuddyer returns, Span can be confident he won't be the one packing his bags and heading back to Class AAA Rochester. After weeks of being one of the best players in Minnesota's lineup on offense and defense, Span added to his big-league successes Monday night with his first career home run, a two-run shot that put Minnesota up 2-0 against Chicago.
"First start in center field at the Dome, first home run," he said. "For it to come here, it's something that I dreamed of when I was 18 and this team drafted me. It just felt good to run out there to center field today, it really did, just knowing that Torii Hunter and Kirby Puckett stood out there."
Visibly excited about the homer, Span let out a holler as he rounded the bases. Now batting .318 for the Twins this season, Span's home run was even more impressive because it came against left-handed pitcher Mark Buehrle.
In Rochester this season, Span batted .174 against lefties. In Minnesota, he's batting .406 against left-handers, but first baseman Justin Morneau said this version of Span isn't content with his table-setting ways.
"Denard told me he was going deep tonight, said he was tired of sitting on that zero," Morneau said. "I told him he didn't really need to worry about hitting homers, but apparently he calls his shots."
TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 0: RHP Kevin Slowey threw his third complete game of the season and second shutout. Slowey (7-7) allowed six hits and had five strikeouts to drop his ERA from 4.41 to 4.00.
