--2B Alexi Casilla, off to a .185 start at the plate this season and just 1-for-18 against left-handed pitching, was moved to ninth in the Twins' lineup Wednesday against Rays LHP Scott Kazmir. Manager Ron Gardenhire said the move is only temporary, and he anticipates moving Casilla back to his normal No. 2 spot when his slump ends. But SS Brendan Harris, who moved into Casilla's spot, collected three hits on Wednesday.
--CF Carlos Gomez left the team Tuesday to be with his wife, Gerandy, in Florida for the birth of the couple's first child. Gomez was scheduled to return to the team Friday. BY THE NUMBERS: 17 -- Minnesota's win April 24 in Cleveland was the first time in 17 games to start the season that the team did not trail at least once.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I said I thought it was a mechanical thing, and he said it's not mechanical, so then the only other thing is he stinks. Right now, he stinks. He's not pitching good. I learned that from Lou Piniella. You give them an out, they change it up, then he stinks right now. Right now, not all the time, but right now he does. And he needs to unstink. That's all I know about how to fix him. He's got to unstink because it's not mechanical. OK? There you have it. That's managing 101." -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, after learning RHP Scott Baker disagreed with the skipper's diagnosis of the starter's woes as a mechanical problem.
