Still, the Twins have tried to stay positive. Some good things came out of that defeat, Gardenhire said; just the fact Minnesota won 88 games and forced the playoff game made the season a success.

"As bad as that day was, we can't let it overshadow what we accomplished," Michael Cuddyer said. "But it really was a bad day."

Then there was the performance of Nick Blackburn, who pitched into the seventh inning and made only one real mistake -- a fastball that Jim Thome drove over the center-field fence. "Blackie throwing the ball the way he did -- there were good things," Gardenhire said. "But it sure ended on a negative note."

Catcher Jose Morales was having flashbacks of his own, but not to the tiebreaker. He made his major league debut at U.S. Cellular in 2007, went 3 for 3, then suffered the ankle injury that nearly wrecked his career in the same game.

"Same locker," he said before the game. "It feels a little weird to be back here."

Baker cruises: Scott Baker had an easy time Friday in his rehab start for Class A Fort Myers, allowing just one run over seven innings against Port Charlotte.

Baker, who gave up five hits and a walk while striking out three, is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday. He isn't listed among the Twins' probable pitchers for next week's Metrodome series against Toronto but could be slotted into R.A. Dickey's place Wednesday if his shoulder exhibits no unusual soreness this weekend.

Stelmaszek update: Bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek lives in Chicago during the winter, so he traveled with the Twins and was at the ballpark before the game. But he left before the game and probably will remain in Chicago for a few days after the Twins head back to Minnesota.

"I told him to relax. He'll stay a couple of extra days, then come back and join us on Wednesday," Gardenhire said. "If everything is going good and he's feeling good, he'll be back in the bullpen. It's up to him, when he's ready."

Stelmaszek, 60, was hospitalized earlier this week after feeling ill. The Twins summoned Jim Shellenback, pitching coach for the rookie league Elizabethtown Twins , to Chicago to take charge of the bullpen while Stelmaszek is out.

Lineup retooled: After scoring only 13 runs in four home games, Gardenhire shook up his lineup Friday, moving Justin Morneau out of his normal cleanup slot and into the third position. Jason Kubel batted behind Morneau, and Cuddyer, 5 for 23 lifetime against Chicago starter Jose Contreras, batted fifth.

"Just trying to move people around a little, see what happens," Gardenhire said. "We didn't exactly light it up yesterday, and we haven't really scored a lot of runs yet."