Twinsportal.com | Minnesota Twins News, twins Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - CLEVELAND -- In July of last season, Justin Morneau batted .360 with a .708 slugging percentage. He hit six home runs and drove in 23 runs. A month later, his slugging percentage plummeted to .473 and his batting average dropped to .282. In September, things kept spiraling. In the final month of the 2008 season, Morneau hit .243 with a .398 slugging percentage, and in his final 15 games of the year, he mustered just a .169 average, a .234 slugging percentage, three doubles and no home runs. This season, like he did Sunday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has given Morneau -- who played in all 163 games in 2008 -- an occasional day as designated hitter. Morneau missed all but three innings of a seven-game stretch in August because of dizziness caused by an inner-ear infection. He is adamant that he has had no symptoms since he returned to the lineup, but no matter the cause, Morneau is suffering through another late-season slump, and the similarities to last year's are hard to ignore. That is, unless you're Morneau. "This year is this year; last year is last year," he said. "Last year's done. I'm here trying to help us get back to the playoffs. None of that stuff matters anymore." What does matter is that one of the most integral parts of Minnesota's lineup is again lagging down the stretch. Morneau entered Sunday's game in Cleveland hitless in his past 16 at-bats. On Sunday he drew a walk but not a hit, stretching his slump to 0 for 19 (his career worst is 0 for 21, in 2005). Since peaking at .317 on July 20, the first baseman's batting average has tumbled to .280, and through Saturday, his slugging percentage had dropped 69 percentage points since July 26. He has one home run in his past 90 at-bats. On Saturday, he flew out to the warning track twice, once with the bases loaded, and in another at-bat had a hard-hit ball to second base that resulted in an inning-ending double play. "That's Baseball. Sometimes you hit it off the end of the bat and bloop it in there; sometimes you hit it as hard as you can, and it goes right at somebody," Morneau said after Saturday's game. Gardenhire believes all it will take for Morneau to break free from his failing bat is one "big whack." Unfortunately, the Twins shift from Cleveland to Toronto, a place where Morneau historically has had few whacks. In 12 career games at Rogers Centre, the Canadian is 8 for 45 for a .178 average, with a .229 on-base percentage and three extra base hits (one double and two home runs). Liriano progressing: Francisco Liriano threw a third consecutive bullpen session with positive results Sunday morning in Cleveland. Next is a simulated game Tuesday in Toronto. Immediately after Sunday's throwing session, Liriano had one person in mind that he wants to face: first-base coach Jerry White. "Jerry's made a history of doing this, facing pitchers coming back on rehab, and he's whacked a few of them, put some good swings on them, some line drives," Gardenhire said. "So now the guys that have been around a little bit know that one of the hitters they're going to face in these things is Jerry White." White, apparently, is as eager to face Liriano as Liriano is to face him. "J-Dub wants a piece of him," pitching coach Rick Anderson deadpanned. After being told White has some injuries he's working through, Anderson quipped, "That'll be an excuse." Briefly: The Twins announced Sunday that right-handed pitcher Armando Gabino and infielder/outfielder Justin Huber will join the team Tuesday in Toronto once Class AAA Rochester's season is over. Joe Nathan's save Saturday was his 36th of the season and boosted him into elite company. The closer has six consecutive seasons with at least 36 saves, only the second pitcher in major league history to achieve that feat. The other was Trevor Hoffman, who saved 36-plus games in seven consecutive seasons (1996-2002, while with the San Diego Padres). Sign up for breaking news alerts from FOXSports.com!

CLEVELAND -- In July of last season, Justin Morneau batted .360 with a .708 slugging percentage. He hit six home runs and drove in 23 runs. A month later, his slugging percentage plummeted to .473 and his batting average dropped to .282. In September, things kept spiraling.

In the final month of the 2008 season, Morneau hit .243 with a .398 slugging percentage, and in his final 15 games of the year, he mustered just a .169 average, a .234 slugging percentage, three doubles and no home runs.

This season, like he did Sunday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has given Morneau -- who played in all 163 games in 2008 -- an occasional day as designated hitter.

Morneau missed all but three innings of a seven-game stretch in August because of dizziness caused by an inner-ear infection. He is adamant that he has had no symptoms since he returned to the lineup, but no matter the cause, Morneau is suffering through another late-season slump, and the similarities to last year's are hard to ignore. That is, unless you're Morneau.

"This year is this year; last year is last year," he said. "Last year's done. I'm here trying to help us get back to the playoffs. None of that stuff matters anymore."

What does matter is that one of the most integral parts of Minnesota's lineup is again lagging down the stretch. Morneau entered Sunday's game in Cleveland hitless in his past 16 at-bats. On Sunday he drew a walk but not a hit, stretching his slump to 0 for 19 (his career worst is 0 for 21, in 2005). Since peaking at .317 on July 20, the first baseman's batting average has tumbled to .280, and through Saturday, his slugging percentage had dropped 69 percentage points since July 26. He has one home run in his past 90 at-bats.

On Saturday, he flew out to the warning track twice, once with the bases loaded, and in another at-bat had a hard-hit ball to second base that resulted in an inning-ending double play.

"That's Baseball. Sometimes you hit it off the end of the bat and bloop it in there; sometimes you hit it as hard as you can, and it goes right at somebody," Morneau said after Saturday's game.

Gardenhire believes all it will take for Morneau to break free from his failing bat is one "big whack." Unfortunately, the Twins shift from Cleveland to Toronto, a place where Morneau historically has had few whacks.

In 12 career games at Rogers Centre, the Canadian is 8 for 45 for a .178 average, with a .229 on-base percentage and three extra base hits (one double and two home runs).

Liriano progressing: Francisco Liriano threw a third consecutive bullpen session with positive results Sunday morning in Cleveland. Next is a simulated game Tuesday in Toronto.

Immediately after Sunday's throwing session, Liriano had one person in mind that he wants to face: first-base coach Jerry White.

"Jerry's made a history of doing this, facing pitchers coming back on rehab, and he's whacked a few of them, put some good swings on them, some line drives," Gardenhire said. "So now the guys that have been around a little bit know that one of the hitters they're going to face in these things is Jerry White."

White, apparently, is as eager to face Liriano as Liriano is to face him.

"J-Dub wants a piece of him," pitching coach Rick Anderson deadpanned.

After being told White has some injuries he's working through, Anderson quipped, "That'll be an excuse."

Briefly: The Twins announced Sunday that right-handed pitcher Armando Gabino and infielder/outfielder Justin Huber will join the team Tuesday in Toronto once Class AAA Rochester's season is over.

Joe Nathan's save Saturday was his 36th of the season and boosted him into elite company. The closer has six consecutive seasons with at least 36 saves, only the second pitcher in major league history to achieve that feat. The other was Trevor Hoffman, who saved 36-plus games in seven consecutive seasons (1996-2002, while with the San Diego Padres).