MINNEAPOLIS (AP) When Erick Aybar came trotting home on a double from Mike Trout that gave the Los Angeles an early lead over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, Angels starter Ervin Santana raised his hands in the dugout and smiled.

Hard to blame, him. It had been quite a while since he had pitched with a run on the board.

Ervin Santana pitched 7 1-3 innings and got some run support from the Angels offense for the first time in his past six starts in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Santana (1-6) gave up two runs and six hits and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who took two of three from the Twins. Trout had two doubles, two RBIs and scored twice and Howie Kendrick added three hits for Los Angeles.

”It was great,” Pujols said. ”He’s been pitching the ball well. It’s great to give run support to any of our starting pitchers. As competitive as they are, Ervin knew we scored some runs early, but he kept making his pitches, never lost his focus.”

Carl Pavano (2-3) was knocked out of the game before there was an out in the fifth inning for the Twins, who are an MLB-worst 8-22. He gave up five runs – four earned – and 10 hits in his shortest outing of the season.

Josh Willingham hit his sixth homer of the season and also had a double for the Twins, who shook things up after the game by moving struggling starter Francisco Liriano to the bullpen and sending third baseman Danny Valencia to Triple-A Rochester.

”We need to make some changes,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ”We need some hits. We need some new life in here, the whole package.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Sam Holbrook, but that was about the only thing that went wrong for Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

With Pujols struggling mightily in his first season in the American League, the Angels have been shut out seven times this season. Santana is the first pitcher since 1974 to go through five straight starts where his offense was shut out, according to STATS LLC.

When Trout’s double scored Aybar in the third inning, it was the first time Santana had received a run of support since the third inning on April 8 against Kansas City.

”He felt better, obviously, getting a couple runs,” Scioscia said. ”I felt as the game picked up his command got a little bit better.”

Pujols added an RBI single and Alberto Callaspo scored thanks to a throwing error from first baseman Joe Mauer that hit Pujols in the back on his way to second base for a 3-0 lead. Pujols came up a little gimpy on the play, but he quickly shooed trainers off the field and stayed in the game.

Los Angeles tacked on two more in the fifth, getting rocket doubles to the gap from Trout and Callaspo to start the inning and chase Pavano, who has been searching for lost velocity all season long. With a fastball that routinely was clocked in the mid-80s, and an unwillingness to pitch inside, the Angels hitters were able to crowd the plate and hammer the outside corners early and often.

Pavano gave up four doubles and only lasted as long as he did thanks to three inning-ending double plays.

Santana certainly wasn’t blameless for the 0-5 record he carried into the outing. The right-hander gave up 19 earned runs and 10 homers in his first four starts, one of the chief reasons the Angels got off to such a surprisingly poor start.

But he’s gotten progressively better over his past three outings, looking more and more like the reliable 16-game winner he was last season. He’s allowed seven earned runs in 22 1-3 innings over his past three starts.

”It’s not like we’re not going out and trying to score runs,” Kendrick said. ”We got shut out yesterday, but we come out today and put up 14 hits. It’s like we’re a completely different offense. Everybody is still not where they want to be at, but we’re close.”

NOTES: Twins GM Terry Ryan said DH Justin Morneau received a cortisone shot in his sore left wrist at the Cleveland Clinic. The plan is for him to take some swings on Saturday. While still early in his DL stint, the Twins are hopeful Morneau will be ready to come off on May 15 and join the team for the eight-game road trip that begins in Detroit on May 16. … Torii Hunter hit into two double plays, and the two struggling offenses combined for five in the game. … Angels LF Vernon Wells made an outstanding catch on a dead run to rob Mauer of an extra-base hit in the sixth. …. The Angels have the day off on Thursday before beginning a big series at Texas on Friday. LHP C.J. Wilson (4-2, 2.61) will pitch his first game against the Rangers on Friday night while RHP Yu Darvish (4-1, 2.54) will pitch for Texas. … The Twins open a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Jason Marquis (2-1, 5.40) will pitch Game 1 for Minnesota against RHP Henderson Alvarez (2-2, 2.83).

Daniel Bard went back to the bullpen to help out, and Cody Ross made him a winner.

For at least one night, all was right with the reeling Red Sox.

Ross homered twice, tying the game with a two-run shot in the seventh inning and giving Boston the lead with two outs in the ninth to snap a five-game losing streak for the Red Sox and beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, on Monday.

“It’s been a tough go,” Ross said. “Everybody knows how tough it’s been on us, but nobody feels sorry for us. We’re going to keep having to go out there and grind it out.”

Starter-turned-temporary-reliever Bard (1-2) recorded two critical outs in the eighth after the Twins put the leadoff runner on third. Alfredo Aceves picked up the save, his third in five tries.

Aceves gave up a one-out single and a high drive to the warning track in left-center to Trevor Plouffe, but Denard Span bounced back to the mound to end it.

“It gives them some confidence,” Ross said. “We have some guys that are really good out there, and we believe in them as a team.”

Ryan Sweeney misplayed Jamey Carroll’s single into a two-base error that put him at third with none out in that pivotal eighth, after the ball bounded down the right-field line, ricocheted off the padded facade of the seats in foul territory and skidded away.

But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to ground out weakly to first base, and Bard retired two of the three batters he faced sandwiched around an intentional walk to Justin Morneau. Josh Willingham greeted Bard with a sharp line drive, but it zipped straight at third baseman Kevin Youkilis for the second out.

“He allowed everybody to be happy campers,” manager Bobby Valentine said.

Bard shrugged off his bullpen appearance.

“Same deal. You’re just trying to get out. You just have a little less time to warm up. That’s it,” he said.

Then Ross put the Red Sox in front with his drive off Matt Capps (0-1), who threw a 92-mph, 0-1 fastball at the kneecaps, a tough one for anyone to hit, let alone far enough to reach seats to the opposite field.

“That’s tough to do. He did it. He hit it,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Said Capps: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cody Ross hit a ball that way. He put it a good swing on it and obviously squared it up well.”

After a rainout on Sunday gave the rotation an extra day of rest, Valentine put Bard in his struggling bullpen for a few days amid calls for the young right-hander to take over for Aceves as the closer. But Bard and Valentine insisted the move was merely temporary, and Bard is still on track to make his next start on Friday.

“I still view myself as a starter, and they said they do, too,” Bard said before the game.

Jon Lester allowed six hits, five runs and four walks over seven innings. He struck out four but wasted a 3-0 lead, after Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s two-run homer in the second.

Danny Valencia’s two-run homer, his first of the season, followed Ryan Doumit’s two-run double in a four-run fourth for the Twins. Then Plouffe drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, Span singled and a run scored when Carroll grounded into a double play.

Still, Valentine fervently praised the way Lester bounced back with strong a sixth and seventh.

“Nothing changed physically or mentally, but something got me locked in,” Lester said.

Around the bases

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka’s rehab start for Class A Salem (Va.), his first real game since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last June, was rough. He gave up six hits, three runs and two homers in four innings. … CF Marlon Byrd, 3 for 43 with the Cubs before being traded Saturday, had a single in his Red Sox debut. … Twins starters are 2-9 with a 6.46 ERA, last in the majors.

MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins couldn’t hold a late lead. Both starter Jason Marquis and reliever Matt Capps were culpable in coughing that up.

But yet again they left runners stranded on base at the most important times.

Cody Ross homered twice, tying the game with a two-run shot in the seventh inning and giving Boston the lead with two outs in the ninth to snap a five-game losing streak for the Red Sox in their 6-5 victory over Minnesota on Monday night.

Starter-turned-temporary-reliever Daniel Bard (1-2) recorded two critical outs in the eighth after the Twins put the leadoff batter on third. Alfredo Aceves picked up the save, his third in five tries, and all was right with the reeling Red Sox for at least one night.

Aceves gave up a one-out single and a high drive to the warning track in left-center to Trevor Plouffe, but Denard Span bounced back to the mound to end it.

“I knew I got it up in the air, and I was wishing it over the fence. But definitely didn’t think I absolutely got it,” Plouffe said. “It was one of those ones where it was going to be just barely over the fence, or he was going to catch it.”

The Twins are 8-for-47 with runners in scoring position over their last five games, an average of .170.

“We put ourselves in good situations and have opportunities, but lately we haven’t really been coming through. Teams that win games, they hit in those situations,” Plouffe said.

Ryan Sweeney misplayed Jamey Carroll’s single into a two-base error that put him at third with none out in that pivotal eighth, after the ball bounded down the right-field line, ricocheted off the padded facade of the seats in foul territory and skidded away.

But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to ground out weakly to first base, and Bard retired two of the three batters he faced sandwiched around an intentional walk to Justin Morneau. Josh Willingham greeted Bard with a sharp line drive, but it zipped straight at third baseman Kevin Youkilis for the second out.

Then Ross put the Red Sox in front with his drive off Capps (0-1), who threw a 92 mph, 0-1 fastball at the kneecaps.

“That’s where I wanted the pitch to go,” Capps said.

Jon Lester lasted seven innings for the Red Sox. Danny Valencia’s two-run homer, his first of the season, followed Ryan Doumit’s two-run double in a four-run fourth for the Twins. Then Plouffe drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, Span singled and a run scored when Carroll grounded into a double play.

Boston Minnesota

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Aviles ss 4 1 1 0 Span cf 4 0 1 0

Sweeny rf 4 0 2 0 JCarrll ss 4 0 1 0

Pedroia 2b 4 0 2 0 Mauer c 3 1 2 0

AdGnzl 1b 3 0 0 1 Wlngh dh 3 1 0 0

Ortiz dh 4 0 2 0 Mornea 1b 3 0 0 0

Youkils 3b 4 1 0 0 Doumit rf 4 1 2 2

Sltlmch c 4 2 2 2 Valenci 3b 4 1 1 2

C.Ross lf 4 2 2 3 Parmel lf 4 0 1 0

Byrd cf 4 0 1 0 CThms pr 0 0 0 0

Plouffe 2b 3 1 0 0

Totals 35 6 12 6 Totals 32 5 8 4

Boston 120 000 201— 6

Minnesota 000 410 000— 5

E—Aviles (3), Sweeney (1). DP—Boston 3, Minnesota 2. LOB—Boston 3, Minnesota 5. 2B—Sweeney (8), Doumit (1). HR—Saltalamacchia (2), C.Ross 2 (5), Valencia (1). CS—Pedroia (1). SF—Ad.Gonzalez.

IP H R ER BB SO

Boston

Lester 7 6 5 5 4 4

F.Morales Zc 1 0 0 0 0

Bard W,1-2 Xc 0 0 0 1 0

Aceves S,3-5 1 1 0 0 0 0

Minnesota

Marquis 6Zc 11 5 5 0 3

Burton 1 0 0 0 0 1

Duensing Xc 0 0 0 0 1

Capps L,0-1 1 1 1 1 0 0

T—3:12. A—32,351 (39,500).

Tags:
sports, updates, twins, baseball

Read More: Jamey Carroll (SS – MIN), Alexi Casilla (2B – MIN), Jason Marquis (P – MIN), Luke Hughes (3B – OAK), Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox

Expendable after the Minnesota Twins opted to open a roster spot for pitcher Jason Marquis, utility infielder Luke Hughes was finally claimed off waivers, and will now be headed to Oakland. The Star Tribune’s LaVelle E. Neal III broke the news in the early innings of Minnesota’s game with Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Hughes batted .223 with seven home runs for the Twins last season, and had collected two hits with a pair of RBI to open up the 2012 campaign. The 27-year-old Hughes was eventually edged out for consistent playing time by veteran infielder Jamey Carroll and youngster Alexi Casilla, and did not factor into the team’s long term plans. Marquis, the man who effectively took Hughes’ roster spot, is expected to start on Monday against the Boston Red Sox.

For more on the Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. For more MLB coverage, check out Baseball Nation.

Read More: Francisco Liriano (P – MIN), Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins picked up a rare win at Yankee Stadium on Monday night and will now look to make it two straight. Prior to last night, the Twins had won just five of their last 33 games in the Bronx.

On Tuesday, the Twins will also look to change their luck against CC Sabathia, who has posted a 2.98 ERA in 30 career starts against Minnesota. Sabathia will be looking for his first win this year after receiving no-decisions in his first two starts.

But it won’t matter how Sabathia does if Francisco Liriano can’t get one track for Minnesota. He has gotten off to a shaky start this season, allowing 10 runs and 20 baserunners over his first nine innings.

The game between the Twins and Yankees is scheduled to begin at 6:00 CT.

For more on the Minnesota Twins, head over to Twinkie Town. More on the New York Yankees can be found at Pinstripe Alley. For more on MLB in general check out Baseball Nation.

NEW YORK (AP) Carl Pavano had nothing to prove to an unforgiving Yankee Stadium crowd. He wanted to get the Minnesota Twins back on track.

In only two batters, it looked as if his plan had derailed.

Then something happened that Yankees fans rarely got to see in his four injury-wrecked years in New York: Pavano found a rhythm and was superb through the seventh inning, leading the Twins to a 7-3 victory Monday night that ended their three-game skid.

”It wasn’t about coming in here and putting everything behind me. Everything I went through is behind me,” he said. ”It was coming in here and getting this team on track.”

Justin Morneau played in the field for the first time this season and hit a long homer for the Twins. Joe Mauer had three hits, including two doubles, and every position player had a hit in a tweaked Minnesota lineup.

The Twins won for just the sixth time in 34 regular-season games in the Bronx since Ron Gardenhire took over as manager in 2002. They were also swept by the Yankees in 2009 and ’10 playoffs.

”It’s a new season,” Gardenhire said. ”We’re 1-0 at Yankee Stadium.”

In just his second outing in New York since his tenure with the Yankees ended after the 2008 season, Pavano (1-1) gave up three runs and seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.

Yankees fans showed they can hold a grudge. They were relentless with their boos when Pavano was introduced before the game. After a rocky first, in which he gave up back-to-back homers to Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson to start the inning, Pavano mostly hushed the Yankees’ bats.

”For him to come out in a hostile environment then go out and pitch the way he did, I was real proud of him,” Twins catcher Ryan Doumit said.

Added Jeter: ”Carl has always been a good pitcher. When he’s healthy, he pitches well.”

Gardenhire tried generating some offense by splitting his lefty-hitting M&M boys in the lineup for the first time since 2008, according to STATS LLC. Mauer hit third as the designated hitter and Morneau moved down to fifth and played first base with Josh Willingham taking over the cleanup spot. Morneau had been the DH in the Twins first nine games as he is being brought back slowly from injuries, including a concussion that limited him to 69 games last year.

”Morny’s got a nice look on his face,” Gardenhire said. ”He’s enjoying the game of baseball.”

The adjustment worked right off the bat with Willingham driving in Mauer with a single in the first. In fact, the Twins had five straight hits after Freddy Garcia (0-1) struck out Denard Span looking to start the game.

Mauer doubled after Jamey Carroll singled and was caught stealing. Morneau followed Willingham with a single and Doumit had an RBI hit to make it 2-0.

But Pavano gave it right back.

Jeter learned earlier Monday that he was being given an honorary doctorate from Siena, a college in Loudonville, N.Y., then homered – his third – leading off. Granderson followed Jeter’s drive with another into the right-field seats for the Yankees’ first back-to-back homers to start a game since September 2005, when Jeter and Robinson Cano did it.

Alex Rodriguez beat out an infield hit and advanced to second on third baseman Danny Valencia’s errant throw. He scored on Mark Teixeira’s single for a 3-2 lead.

Alexi Casilla doubled with one out in the fifth to snap a string of 11 straight outs by the Twins that started after the five hits in a row. Carroll followed with a run-scoring single and Mauer an RBI double to give Minnesota the lead. Morneau led off the sixth with a drive into the Yankees bullpen for a 5-3 lead. An out later, Garcia was lifted to boos.

While he had better control in this start after a five wild-pitch performance in his first outing, Garcia gave up nine hits and five runs. He struck out five without walking a batter.

”They have some pretty good hitters now, you got to make good pitches to get those guys out,” Garcia said.

With Andy Pettitte working his way back from retirement and Michael Pineda rehabbing his shoulder, Garcia could be losing his grip on a rotation spot.

NOTES: Granderson raced into the left-center field gap to make a sensational catch on a drive by Morneau. … Twins LHP Glen Perkins had an MRI exam that showed some tenderness in his forearm. He will remain back in Minnesota for two more days before deciding if any further action is needed. … Jeter’s leadoff homer was his 26th, extending his Yankees record.

NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Pavano had nothing to prove to an unforgiving Yankee Stadium crowd. He wanted to get the Minnesota Twins back on track.

In only two batters, it looked as if his plan had derailed.

Then something happened that Yankees fans rarely got to see in his four injury-wrecked years in New York: Pavano found a rhythm and was superb through the seventh inning, leading the Twins to a 7-3 victory Monday night that ended their three-game skid.

“It wasn’t about coming in here and putting everything behind me. Everything I went through is behind me,” he said. “It was coming in here and getting this team on track.”

Justin Morneau played in the field for the first time this season and hit a long homer for the Twins. Joe Mauer had three hits, including two doubles, and every position player had a hit in a tweaked Minnesota lineup.

The Twins won for just the sixth time in 34 regular-season games in the Bronx since Ron Gardenhire took over as manager in 2002. They were also swept by the Yankees in 2009 and `10 playoffs.

“It’s a new season,” Gardenhire said. “We’re 1-0 at Yankee Stadium.”

In just his second outing in New York since his tenure with the Yankees ended after the 2008 season, Pavano (1-1) gave up three runs and seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.

Yankees fans showed they can hold a grudge. They were relentless with their boos when Pavano was introduced before the game. After a rocky first, in which he gave up back-to-back homers to Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson to start the inning, Pavano mostly hushed the Yankees’ bats.

“For him to come out in a hostile environment then go out and pitch the way he did, I was real proud of him,” Twins catcher Ryan Doumit said.

Added Jeter: “Carl has always been a good pitcher. When he’s healthy, he pitches well.”

Gardenhire tried generating some offense by splitting his lefty-hitting M&M boys in the lineup for the first time since 2008, according to STATS LLC. Mauer hit third as the designated hitter and Morneau moved down to fifth and played first base with Josh Willingham taking over the cleanup spot. Morneau had been the DH in the Twins first nine games as he is being brought back slowly from injuries, including a concussion that limited him to 69 games last year.

“Morny’s got a nice look on his face,” Gardenhire said. “He’s enjoying the game of baseball.”

The adjustment worked right off the bat with Willingham driving in Mauer with a single in the first. In fact, the Twins had five straight hits after Freddy Garcia (0-1) struck out Denard Span looking to start the game.

Mauer doubled after Jamey Carroll singled and was caught stealing. Morneau followed Willingham with a single and Doumit had an RBI hit to make it 2-0.

But Pavano gave it right back.

Jeter learned earlier Monday that he was being given an honorary doctorate from Siena, a college in Loudonville, N.Y., then homered — his third — leading off. Granderson followed Jeter’s drive with another into the right-field seats for the Yankees’ first back-to-back homers to start a game since September 2005, when Jeter and Robinson Cano did it.

Alex Rodriguez beat out an infield hit and advanced to second on third baseman Danny Valencia’s errant throw. He scored on Mark Teixeira’s single for a 3-2 lead.

Alexi Casilla doubled with one out in the fifth to snap a string of 11 straight outs by the Twins that started after the five hits in a row. Carroll followed with a run-scoring single and Mauer an RBI double to give Minnesota the lead. Morneau led off the sixth with a drive into the Yankees bullpen for a 5-3 lead. An out later, Garcia was lifted to boos.

While he had better control in this start after a five wild-pitch performance in his first outing, Garcia gave up nine hits and five runs. He struck out five without walking a batter.

“They have some pretty good hitters now, you got to make good pitches to get those guys out,” Garcia said.

With Andy Pettitte working his way back from retirement and Michael Pineda rehabbing his shoulder, Garcia could be losing his grip on a rotation spot.

NOTES: Granderson raced into the left-center field gap to make a sensational catch on a drive by Morneau. … Twins LHP Glen Perkins had an MRI exam that showed some tenderness in his forearm. He will remain back in Minnesota for two more days before deciding if any further action is needed. … Jeter’s leadoff homer was his 26th, extending his Yankees record.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

After getting swept by the two-time defending AL champions, things won’t get any easier for the Minnesota Twins as they start a difficult four-game series Monday night.

Including postseason, Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees have won 33 of 40 at home against the Twins over the past decade, and Yankee Stadium fans will likely be relishing the chance to rudely greet Minnesota starter Carl Pavano.

Minnesota (2-7) was swept over the weekend by Texas at home, and now faces a major nemesis. The Yankees (5-4) have eliminated Ron Gardenhire’s club from the playoffs four times in the decade since he took over as Twins manager, and he’s well aware of his poor record in the Bronx.

“We just play the schedule,” Gardenhire told MLB.com. “We’ll go to New York for four tough games, and then off to Tampa for three more tough ballgames. So it’s a tough road trip.”

The 37-year-old Jeter had two hits including a three-run homer in Sunday’s 11-5 rout of the Angels. He’s 12 for 28 with six extra-base hits in the Yankees’ current 5-1 surge.

“He looks really good,” double-play partner Robinson Cano said. “I’m happy for that guy because people always criticize, his age and stuff like that, so I’m happy to see him have a good start.”

Jeter is 4 for 10 in the regular season against Pavano (0-1, 5.93 ERA), who is 0-2 with a 4.15 ERA in two division series losses to New York since joining Minnesota. Pavano hasn’t faced New York in the regular season with Minnesota, but returned to the Bronx in 2009 while with Cleveland.

Yankees fans likely still harbor memories of his ill-fated stint with the club between 2005-08, when he was limited to 26 starts and made nearly $40 million while spending most of his time on the disabled list.

The veteran right-hander has been about as effective through two starts as he was in those days with New York, yielding five runs over 6 2-3 innings Wednesday and not getting a decision in the Twins’ 6-5 win over the Angels.

Jeter led New York with a .355 average against Minnesota as the Yankees went 6-2 in last season’s series. Mark Teixeira batted .346 with three homers and nine RBIs.

“You’re going to have to face them sometime,” Twins catcher Joe Mauer said. “It’s a tough part of our schedule. We might as well see them early.”

Mauer hit .346 against the Yankees last season while Justin Morneau batted .158. Mauer went 2 for 10 over the weekend with three walks while Morneau was 1 for 12 with five strikeouts.

Each grounded into a double play in Sunday’s 4-3 loss, increasing Minnesota’s season total of twin killings to a major league-leading 13.

“It’s been frustrating,” Mauer said. “Guys are hitting the ball hard and at people and things like that. But you’ve just got to keep plugging away.”

Mauer is a ,419 career hitter against Freddy Garcia (0-0, 5.79), who starts Monday for New York, while Morneau is at .207 against him.

Garcia will make his first home start after giving up four runs over 4 2-3 innings in Tuesday’s 5-4, 12-inning victory at Baltimore.

The veteran right-hander went 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his final six 2011 home starts before he lost to Detroit in Game 2 of an AL division series.

Garcia is 10-7 with a 4.04 ERA in 22 career starts against the Twins.

The Kansas City Royals will play 72 regular-season games against AL Central opponents during the 2012 MLB season. Those opponents include the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. The home and away games will be evenly distributed at 36.

The Royals will host their first game against an AL Central opponent when they play the Cleveland Indians from April 13 through April 15. They’ll finish their season with a three-game home series against the Tigers from October 1 through October 3. The Royals won’t host a divisional contest from April 19 through June 3.

Here is a brief rundown of the Royals’ schedule against divisional opponents for the 2012 MLB season.

Complete MLB schedule can be found HERE.

April 2012 (6 Home, 7 Road)

April 13-15: Cleveland Indians

April 16-18: Detroit Tigers

April 24-26: at Cleveland Indians

April 27-29: at Minnesota Twins

April 30: at Detroit Tigers

May 2012 (0 Home, 8 Road)

May 1-2: at Detroit Tigers (Continued)

May 11-13: at Chicago White Sox

May 28-30: at Cleveland Indians

June 2012 (3 Home, 2 Road)

June 4-6: Minnesota Twins

June 29-30: at Minnesota Twins

July 2012 (7 Home, 4 Road)

July 1: at Minnesota Twins (Continued)

July 6-8: at Detroit Tigers

July 13-15: Chicago White Sox

July 20-22: Minnesota Twins

July 31: Cleveland Indians

August 2012 (9 Home, 3 Road)

August 1-2: Cleveland Indians (Continued)

August 6-8: at Chicago White Sox

August 17-19: Chicago White Sox

August 28-30: Detroit Tigers

August 31: Minnesota Twins

September And October 2012 (11 Home, 12 Road)

September 1-2: Minnesota Twins (Continued)

September 7-9: at Chicago White Sox

September 11-13: at Minnesota Twins

September 18-20: Chicago White Sox

September 21-23: Cleveland Indians

September 25-27: at Detroit Tigers

September 28-30: at Cleveland Indians

October 1-3: Detroit Tigers

MLB schedules subject to change due to rainouts or any other unanticipated postponement.

Joshua Huffman grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as a Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs enthusiast. He immediately gained an admiration for Cubs fans after watching numerous games on WGN during the mid-90s. His favorite Cubs moment was Kerry Wood’s(notes) 1-hitter, 20K extravaganza that was only denied of a no-hitter by Kevin Orie’s defensive blunder. As a Packers and Cubs fan, he suffered through Steve Bartman and “4th & 26″ in a span of three months. He can be found on Twitter HERE.

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AL Central Schedule for the 2012 Detroit Tigers

AL Central Schedule for the 2012 Chicago White Sox

Neither of the Minnesota Twins’ utility infielders, Luke Hughes and Sean Burroughs, has any experience playing shortstop on the majors. But Trevor Plouffe does, and that’s enough for manager Ron Gardenhire.

Plouffe started 54 games at short as a rookie last season but struggled defensively. Because the Twins like his bat, they moved him to the outfield, and he’s likely to start in right field for the opener Friday, April 6. But he played second base in a spring game Sunday and seems headed for the kind of season Michael Cuddyer had last year, when he played second, first and right field.

“I told him super utility – everywhere: shortstop, second, everywhere,” Gardenhire said. “I didn’t bring a (backup) shortstop along, you know.

I’ve got Jamey Carroll (and) Lexi is on that side. I’ve got to have another guy who can play them all. That’s Plouffey.”

Read More: Justin Morneau (DH – MIN), Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins want Justin Morneau involved in games whenever possible, though ideally, he would be at first base where he’s most comfortable and can be most effective. Unfortunately, Morneau has suffered plenty of injuries at first base, including concussions and concussion-like symptoms (which, as far as anyone knows, just means more concussions) over the last season or so.

Morneau will be involved right out of the gate in 2012, as the Star Tribune reports that he’ll open the season as the designated hitter. He doesn’t necessarily want to play there long-term though, and wants to play first base whenever possible:

“The way it’s looking, with (Chris) Parmelee making the team as a first baseman, I think it’s looking more toward DH than first base,” Morneau said. “It isn’t necessarily something that I want to do but it’s better in the long run in terms of being healthy and available to play every day. That’s the biggest thing right now.”

He goes on to say that they’ll revisit it later in the season and see how he’s feeling. It’s all about whether or not he experiences more concussion symptoms and what his fatigue is looking like at that point. Fatigue can increase the effects of a concussion, so if Morneau has to be limited, then that’s what’s best for him and his career. Just having him on the field should be a big help for the Twins, regardless.

Minnesota Twins designated hitter Justin Morneau follows through on an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday, March 28, 2012. Morneau was 3 for 4 with a two-run home run in the Twins’ 11-7 win. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Justin Morneau isn’t particularly happy about becoming a designated hitter, but he has come to grips with it. So the longtime first baseman and 2006 American League MVP will start there when the Minnesota Twins open the season April 6 at Baltimore.

“I still think I have to do what’s smart and what’s best and not necessarily what everyone wants to do,” he said. “But if I go into it not wanting to (DH), I think it’s going to be harder for me to do. So I have to accept it for what it is and enjoy and just try to be a good teammate and try to be the guy when those guys come off the field to pump everybody up, maybe do that and keep myself involved in the game.”

Speaking before the Twins’ 6-6 tie with the

Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, April 2, at Charlotte Sports Park, Morneau made it clear he hasn’t given up on playing defense.

“I feel relatively young in this game, so I don’t plan on DH’ing for the rest of my career,” he said. “I want to get back to playing first. Hopefully, this is just the first step in that process.”

In fact, Morneau, 30, said he expects to play first base this season, particularly during interleague play in National League ballparks, where AL teams won’t be able to use the DH. For now, manager Ron Gardenhire said, rookie Chris Parmelee is the Twins’ regular first baseman.

“I want (Morneau) to have 500 at-bats or whatever it might take,” the manager said. “But there’s going to come a time when he needs to play first

base – as long as he knows that. We talked about it today.”

However temporary, the position switch seems to have been coming since Aug. 28, when Morneau suffered a second concussion while diving for Alex Avila’s hot grounder in a loss to Detroit at Target Field. It was his second season-ending concussion in 13 months, and though he is recovered and cleared by doctors to play, he is wary of a setback.

Doctors have told him that fatigue can play a factor in whether his symptoms return. He

also acknowledged that limiting himself to batting and running the bases will cut down his chances of another injury.

“But most of it is making sure it doesn’t happen again and I completely get past (the concussion),” Morneau said, “because last year we thought it was all gone, and a simple play in the field happened and I’m done for the rest of the year in late August. So it doesn’t make sense to go out there and every time I dive, or something questionable happens, you have to get through that whole thing. I know it would drive Gardy crazy and me crazy.

“I want to be out there free and be able to dive for balls and make plays I need to make. So if I’m not able to do that right away, and I don’t have the confidence that I’ll be able

to do that, then it’s probably the best to not do that right now and see what happens down the road.”

Morneau said he reported to spring training Feb. 24 with every intention of playing first base this season, and considering what he went through physically last season, his consistent participation has been notable. In addition to the concussion, he had surgery on his neck, left wrist, left knee and right foot between June and September.

But when his swing wasn’t coming around, Morneau started to DH so he could get more at-bats in spring training games. Since moving there on March 14, he is hitting .341 (14 for 41) with three homers, four doubles and 13 RBIs, though much of the production has come in his past eight games. He singled

in his last at-bat Monday to extend his hitting streak to eight games (12 for 27, .444).

“It’s feeling pretty close to normal. The timing took a while to come, so it’s starting to feel like the swing is pretty good now,” he said. “The wrist has really come a long way, especially in the last two weeks. The confidence at the plate really feels pretty good. Just standing in there and feeling like myself is a good feeling.”