Alexi Casilla did a double-take as he inspected the Twins' lineup card on Friday. When he didn't see his name on the second line of the batting order, he assumed he wasn't playing. Then he noticed his name near the bottom.
Casilla was moved to eighth in the lineup by manager Ron Gardenhire, a reflection of the 6-for-34 slump he found himself in since returning from a thumb injury in mid-August. "He's just swinging a little bit nuts right now," said Gardenhire, who moved Nick Punto into the second spot. "It's not easy just to jump right back in there after a traumatic injury like that."
But the move, Gardenhire hopes, is just temporary. Casilla has hit .297 in the second spot this season, and before the injury, had become a catalyst to the Twins' offense.
"We'll see if we can get Lexi going again," Gardenhire said. "I really like Lexi in the second hole, and we'll eventually get him back up there."
He has a few symptoms of jumpiness, however, so Gardenhire hopes the rookie will relax. On Thursday, the manager said, Casilla seemed to "panic" and lunge at pitches when he saw Denard Span trying to steal second.
"I'm worried that we're seeing a guy run so we're just swinging," Gardenhire said. "And they weren't strikes. We have to do a better job."
TWINS 12, ATHLETICS 2: Joe Mauer slapped a career-high five hits around the diamond, Justin Morneau added four, and the Twins moved within a half-game of first place in the American League Central Friday. Kevin Slowey (11-8) won his fourth consecutive decision, giving up six hits and two runs while striking out 10 over six innings. The Twins collected four or more hits in three different innings, and piled up a season-high 20 for the game.
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