--RF Michael Cuddyer swung off of a tee on Friday and said he would be taking batting practice before Saturday afternoon's game against Detroit. It was the first time the outfielder hit since breaking his left foot in early August. Cuddyer, who remains optimistic that he will be able to contribute in some form this season, said he is still unable to run and predicted he might be able to do that in about a week and a half.
--Twins manager Ron Gardenhire gave his weary team a day off from on-field batting practice Friday. The team arrived home from a 15-day, 14-game road trip at about 1 a.m. Friday, and even the skipper seemed subdued by road fatigue before Friday's game against Detroit. --Minnesota's final September call-up, LHP Jose Mijares, joined the team at the Metrodome Friday. Mijares, who broke his pitching elbow in an offseason car accident, expressed, with fellow LHP Dennys Reyes interpreting, his happiness at making the big league club for the first time despite having to recover from his accident.
--1B Justin Morneau's fifth inning grand slam was his second bases-full homer of the season and fourth of his career. Morneau is now batting .397 with three homers and 14 RBI against Detroit this season.
--LHP Francisco Liriano is now 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 38 strikeouts in six starts since being called up July 31. His nine strikeouts were the most he's had since he struck out 12 against Detroit in July 2006.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 -- Number of runs the Twins were outscored by (34-20) in their first eight losses of a 5-9 road trip. Each of those eight losses were by one or two runs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was out there warming up today, and I said it's probably the worst I've felt all year. But you go out there, we're a half-game back, and (my body) seems to feel pretty good pretty quick." -- Justin Morneau, near the end of the Twins' 14-game road trip.
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