La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Outfielder Shannon Stewart did not start on Saturday
because of a sore right wrist suffered when diving for
a ball earlier in the week.

"He said he could play if he had to," Twins manager
Ron Gardenhire said, "but we're not at the 'had to'
part of the season."

Gardenhire said the wrist bothered Stewart throughout
Friday's game, but he managed to collect three
singles. Stewart then mentioned the injury to hitting
coach Scott Ullger, who called and reminded Gardenhire
of the condition Saturday morning.

Stewart could get today off as well. With Monday's
off-day, he would have three days of rest.

"We'll wait a day and see how it goes," Gardenhire
said.

Lew Ford led off Saturday night in a 1-0 loss to the
Angels and started in left field in Stewart's place.
Jose Offerman was the designated hitter instead of
Ford.

Rivas starts

Gardenhire called Luis Rivas over before Saturday's
game.

"Look, we're going to try something different today,"
Gardenhire said while pointing to Rivas' name in the
starting lineup.

"Comeback!" Rivas yelled.

After sitting out the past two games (manager's
decision), Rivas returned to the starting lineup. Part
of the reason was that Nick Punto, who had started the
past two games, has a slightly sore back.

Gardenhire, who credited Rivas for working hard during
his days not in the lineup, made a point of denying
that there was a second base controversy. His
preference is to keep Rivas in the lineup.

"Once we get Luis squared away, he's my second
baseman," Gardenhire said.

• The coaching staff wanted Rivas to steal second
after leading off the eighth with a walk. But Rivas
never took off. "We could never get a pitch to run
there, I guess," Gardenhire said.

Dome ball

Dave Kingman, with help from former Twins and Angels
hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, commemorated the 20th
anniversary of Kingman's fly ball rising through a
hole in the Metrodome's roof.

A ball was dropped from the roof before the game.
Hatcher, dressed in catcher's gear, tried to catch it.
He missed, falling down as the ball bounced off of
him.

"He said he tried to catch it," Kingman said.

Kingman slugged 442 homers in his career, but is
remembered by many for the ball that was swallowed by
the roof. That ball is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in
Cooperstown, N.Y.

Etc.

• The Angels placed Tim Salmon on the 15-day disabled
list because of left knee irritation. They called up
righthander Matt Hensley to replace him.

• Catcher Joe Mauer (left knee) and designated hitter
Matthew LeCroy (right oblique muscle) will fly out on
Monday for Fort Myers, Fla., to continue their
rehabilitation from injuries. Both could be ready by
May 11, when the Twins return from their West Coast
road trip.

• Angels reliever Francisco Rodriguez has thrown 12
2/3 scoreless innings.

• Troy Percival's run of 38 2/3 scoreless innings
against the Twins is the longest current run by one
player against an opponent.

• The Twins were shut out for the first time this
season.

• Twins starters have pitched at least seven innings
in five of their past eight starts.

• Henry Blanco is batting .062 (1-for-16) on the
homestand.

On deck

Lefthander Johan Santana (1-0, 5.40) has given up only
three earned runs in each of his past two starts. He
goes today against the Angels in the finale of a
three-game series.

May 2, 2004




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