--1B Justin Morneau hit an ankle-high fastball into the Yankees bullpen, then walloped a high fastball into the second deck in right field, marking his 28th birthday with two home runs -- a feat he also accomplished on his 26th birthday. "Yeah, but I can't remember the last time we actually won on my birthday," he grumbled. Morneau also made a diving stop of a ground ball in the ninth inning, a potential game-saving play ruined when the Yankees scored two batters later.
--LHP Francisco Liriano was in line for his third victory after allowing one run on four hits over six innings on Friday, but he didn't sound like he thought he deserved one. Liriano walked six batters and was upset about his lack of control. "I've got to get better location with my fastball," said Liriano, whose win was lost when the Yankees rallied off closer Joe Nathan. "I battled tonight, but I can't walk that many." --LF Delmon Young left the Twins after Thursday's game to return to his California home. Young will spend some time with his mother, who is seriously ill with cancer. The Twins put Young on the family emergency list and called up C Jose Morales from Class AAA Rochester to fill in.
--RHP Joe Nathan has pitched in six of the Twins' last seven games and the last four in a row, but the closer said his unusual activity had nothing to do with his blown save on Friday. "I felt good," Nathan said after allowing three runs on four hits in the ninth inning. "I thought I made good pitches. I think if you asked anybody over there, nobody felt like they squared up on the ball."
--C Joe Mauer continued his hot hitting Friday with a home run into the right-field bullpen, his fifth home run of the season. In just four weeks, Mauer already has more than half as many home runs as he had all of last season (nine).
MEDICAL WATCH:
3B Joe Crede (back) came out of the May 15 game after five innings but said it wasn't anything serious. However, he was expected to get at least a day or two off, just to be safe.
RHP Boof Bonser (torn right labrum and rotator cuff surgery in February 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He is out for the season.
RHP Pat Neshek (right elbow surgery) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 21. He will remain in Florida all summer and targets a return by next spring.
ROTATION:
LHP Francisco Liriano
RHP Nick Blackburn
RHP Kevin Slowey
LHP Glen Perkins
RHP Scott Baker
BULLPEN:
RHP Joe Nathan (closer)
RHP Matt Guerrier
LHP Craig Breslow
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP R.A. Dickey
LHP Jose Mijares
RHP Jesse Crain
CATCHERS:
Joe Mauer
Mike Redmond
Jose Morales
INFIELDERS:
1B Justin Morneau
2B Matt Tolbert
SS Nick Punto
3B Joe Crede
INF Brian Buscher
INF Brendan Harris
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Denard Span
CF Carlos Gomez
RF Michael Cuddyer
DH Jason Kubel
