Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Hughes will start Monday for Twins, but more moves loom. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1

Twins put Stauffer on disabled list, promote Pressly. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2

Friday’s Twins-White Sox game recap. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 2

Postgame: Milone knows walks are why he's gone. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3

Twins send down Milone, Thielbar to Class AAA. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3

Gibson grinds his way to shutout win over White Sox. Start Tribune (Miller) p. 4

Twins place Tim Stauffer on DL, recall Ryan Pressly. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5

Minnesota Twins: Phil Hughes set to start Monday against A's. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5

Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson pitches gem in 1-0 win. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6

Updated Twinsights: Side issue sends Tim Stauffer to disabled list. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Twinsights: ‘Hughes the Force’ promotion will feature namesake after all. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Twinsights: Paul Molitor entertains jug, pig in his office on Gophers night. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8

Postgame Twinsights: Torii Hunter recounts latest brain-rattling collision. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8

Noesi finds way back to mound against Twins. MLB.com (Merkin) p. 10

Hughes cleared to start as Twins shuffle arms. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 11

Intercostal strain lands Stauffer on DL. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 11

Gibson directs shutout with 8 scoreless. MLB.com (Bollinger & Merkin) p. 12

Gibson putting consistency issues to bed. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 12

Twins place struggling reliever Stauffer on DL, recall Pressly. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 13

Twins send Milone, Thielbar to Triple-A, activate Nolasco, Duensing. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 14

Gibson gets through 8 shutout innings, Twins beat White Sox, 1-0. Associated Press p. 14

Twins minor-league stars of the week: May 1, 2015. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 15

Twins send RHP Stauffer to DL, recall Pressly. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 16

Gibson virtually flawless in Twins’ narrow win. Fox Sports North (Mason) p. 17

Hughes will start Monday for Twins, but more moves loom

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | May 1, 2015

Paul Molitor was standing on the Target Field grass this afternoon when Phil Hughes walked past, having just thrown his normal between-starts bullpen session. Hughes stopped and delivered the news Molitor was hoping for.

“Yep, I aired it out, tried not to think about it, and I’m good to go,” the manager quoted Hughes as telling him. “I’m going to trust in that.”

Hughes’ status was in doubt because he had to be removed from his start Wednesday after five innings due to tightness in his left hip. But the stiffness seems to have faded, and the jumbled Twins’ rotation won’t have to be shaken up again. Hughes will start Monday as scheduled against the A’s, Molitor said.

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That saves the Twins from having to make a transaction, but it’s still a busy weekend for that pitching staff. Earlier Friday, the Twins placed righthander Tim Stauffer on the disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle in his rib cage and recalled Ryan Pressly from Class AAA Rochester. And two more moves will be made on Saturday, when starter Ricky Nolasco and reliever Brian Duensing are restored to the roster from the disabled list.

The moves “are separate,” Molitor said. “With Casey [Fien] going down [on Wednesday] and Timmy [Stauffer] needing to get well, we needed right-handed help. With [Michael] Tonkin and Pressly, we’ve kind of interchanged those parts.”

In other words, expect a lefthander — probably Caleb Thielbar — to be sent back to Rochester when Duensing is activated. As for Nolasco’s roster spot, the manager wasn’t ready to say who might go. Could Pressly or Tonkin’s stint last just a couple of days? Would the Twins move Tommy Milone down in order to keep him stretched out as a starter? Would they expand the bullpen to eight pitchers, or might another pitcher be cut?

“We’ll get through the night and see how we’re looking,” Molitor said.

The Twins’ manager was in a particularly good mood today, in part because of the trophies that were on display next to his desk: Floyd of Rosedale and the Little Brown Jug, won by the Minnesota Gophers football team, with victories over Iowa and Michigan, last fall and delivered to Target Field for tonight’s Minnesota Day ceremonies.

“I have a tremendous amount of allegiance to the university, [for] the opportunity they presented to me a long time ago,” said Molitor, who attended Minnesota from 1974-77. “I getting out there for the basketball games, football games every now and then. But to have the jug and the pig here in the office today, it’s a pretty good thing.”

Twins put Stauffer on disabled list, promote Pressly

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | May 1, 2015

Tim Stauffer, whose drop in velocity on his fastball has mystified Twins coaches, was placed on the disabled list Friday with a right intercostal (rib cage) strain. Ryan Pressly, who was cut after a disappointing spring, was recalled from AAA Rochester.

Stauffer, signed as a free agent over the winter, had an 8.38 ERA in eight appearances with the Twins this season, allowing 16 hits and six walks in 9 2/3 innings. His fastball, which had been in the low 90s with San Diego the past couple seasons, did not consistently crack 90 mph this season.

Pressley was 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA with Rochester after a spring training that saw him post an 8.31 ERA in four appearances. He allowed 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings duriung the spring.

Pressly made 74 relief appearances with the Twins the past two seasons, posting a 3.60 ERA in 105 innings. He'll be in uniform for tonight's game against the visiting White Sox.

Friday’s Twins-White Sox game recap

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | May 2, 2015

GAME RECAP

Impact player

Kyle Gibson, Twins

The righthander gave up four hits over eight innings and twice stranded runners at third. It was the first time he had a scoreless outing since July 29, a stretch of 16 starts.

BY THE NUMBERS

2 Twins’ 1-0 victories in the past four seasons.

7-4 The Twins’ home record.

ON DECK

After a 24-day absence, Ricky Nolasco, back from an elbow injury, makes his second start of the season.

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Postgame: Milone knows walks are why he’s gone

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | May 1, 2015

A handful of extras from the Twins’ second 1-0 win in four seasons:

— It couldn’t have been easy for Tommy Milone, who said his demotion to Class AAA Rochester was “a little bit of a shock,” but the lefthander took questions after getting the news Friday night. He said he understood the Twins’ reasoning, that it’s better for him to keep starting, even in the minor leagues, than trying to learn how to pitch out of the bullpen at the major-league level. After all, the Twins’ rotation hasn’t been very stable for a few years now. He also goes down to Rochester with a goal: Throw strikes. He’s walked 11 batters in 22 1/3 innings this season, which he figures is the main reason he’s no longer in the rotation. “I’ve just got to attack the hitters,” Milone said. “That’s one thing I’m going to do when I get down there — make sure I attack hitters and eliminate those free base runners.”

— Thielbar was sent back to Rochester as well, and Molitor called the decisions “difficult.” In Thielbar’s case, it was numbers, not results, that cost him his job. “Caleb threw the ball better up here than I saw throughout the spring,” Molitor said of the Northfield native, who allowed a run in only one of his six appearances last month. “It wasn’t a matter of what he did wrong, as much as how things fit now.”

— With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the ninth inning, Paul Molitor made a rare visit to the mound where he didn’t remove the pitcher. His message to closer Glen Perkins was a simple one, involving whether Perkins wanted to walk the next batter, Tyler Flowers. “I didn’t ask him,” Molitor said. “I said, ‘I don’t want to walk this guy.’ It was a brief meeting.” The manager knew that light-hitting center fielder J.B. Shuck was up after Flowers, and the Sox had already used most of their bench. “But you’ve got your guy out there,” Molitor said of Perkins. “I’m going after [Flowers].” It was a good call — Perkins needed only three pitches, all fastballs 94 or 95 mph, to strike out Flowers, the last one without a swing.

— Molitor on Kennys Vargas’ seventh-inning single to deep right field, which Avisail Garcia cut off before it reached the wall, then threw Vargas out by 10 feet at second base: “We encourage aggressiveness. But that one was more imaginative than anything else.”

Twins send Milone, Thielbar to Class AAA

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | May 2, 2015

On Monday, Tommy Milone was in the Twins rotation. On Thursday, he was in their bullpen. On Saturday, he will join their top minor league team.

Rough week.

Milone was sent to Class AAA Rochester after Friday night’s 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox to make room for Ricky Nolasco, who will start Saturday’s game after missing more than three weeks because of elbow inflammation. And Milone isn’t the only lefthander headed down — with Brian Duensing also returning from an intercostal strain, Caleb Thielbar was returned to the Red Wings, too.

The move restructures the Twins bullpen, which added righthanders Michael Tonkin and Ryan Pressly this week, and allows Milone to remain a starter as he waits for another opportunity to emerge in the Twins rotation.

“I understand what they’re trying to do. They feel they have the best five starters here,” said Milone, who added that he was “shocked” by the news. “For me to get work as a starter, it’s better for me to go down there than to stay here and toil around in the bullpen.”

Milone, 28, won the spring competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, and turned in a gem in his first start, shutting out the White Sox on two hits over 7⅔ innings. But he has given up 12 runs over 15 innings in three starts since then, and has been outpitched by Mike Pelfrey and Trevor May, leading to his demotion.

Meanwhile, Pressly, who had a 4.50 ERA at Rochester, joined the bullpen when righthander Tim Stauffer was placed on the disabled list Friday because of a sore intercostal muscle on the right side of his rib cage.

Stauffer, a major disappointment after signing a $2.2 million contract, has been pitching injured, Molitor said. “It’s one of those situations where a guy has tried to pitch through an injury,” Molitor said. “I don’t feel the results are there, he knows that.”

Stauffer has an 8.38 ERA in eight appearances, and his fastball velocity has mostly been below 90 miles per hour.

“I think your mind has a tendency to protect your body,” Molitor said, “and if you’re not able to fully extend, and you’re kind of cutting off your pitches, even if it’s subconscious, it potentially can affect not only your velocity, but how you finish your breaking stuff, too.”

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Hughes good to go

The pitching staff is in flux these days, but the Twins can still count on Phil Hughes.

The righthander, who has yet to miss a start since signing last year, tested the hip flexor that limited him to five innings in his last start, and after pitching his normal between-starts bullpen session, pronounced himself healthy on Friday. He will make his next start, Monday against Oakland, on schedule.

“I asked him, walking off the field after he got done throwing. ‘Yep, I aired it out, tried not to think about it, and I’m good to go,’ ” Molitor quoted Hughes as telling him. “I’m going to trust in that.”

The Twins haven’t lost any trust in Hughes despite his 0-4 start to the season, and Molitor said he was relieved that the team’s No. 1 starter apparently will avoid the disabled list.

Etc.

• For a St. Paul native and former Gophers player, getting to pose with Floyd of Rosedale and the Little Brown Jug was something of a thrill, Molitor said. The trophies, won by the Gophers football team in games against Iowa and Michigan last fall, were at Target Field as part of Friday’s University of Minnesota Night promotion. “I have a tremendous amount of allegiance to the university, [for] the opportunity they presented to me a long time ago,” said Molitor, who attended the school from 1974 to ’77. “I like getting out there for the basketball games, football games every now and then. But to have the jug and the pig here in the office today, it’s a pretty good thing.”

• Nolasco, who has made three rehab starts in Cedar Rapids in the past nine months: “As much as it’s been good to me — there are nice people down there who treated me well — I definitely don’t ever want to go back.”

Gibson grinds his way to shutout win over White Sox

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | May 2, 2015

In his first four starts of the season, the Twins presented Kyle Gibson with six entire runs to work with.

The starvation diet got no better on Friday. But Gibson did.

The third-year righthander loaded the bases in the third inning, and put two runners on base in the seventh. But each time, with zero margin of error, Gibson worked his way out of trouble. His reward was a 1-0 victory, only the Twins’ second since 2011, over the Chicago White Sox.

Displaying a sinker that produced eight ground balls — and more critically, a pair of double plays — and a willingness to throw strikes against the major leagues’ lowest-scoring team, Gibson needed only 94 pitches to complete eight scoreless innings. He was hoping to pitch the ninth, too — but that decision wasn’t his.

Manager Paul Molitor “was there waiting for me” as he came off the field in the eighth, Gibson said. “That’s not a good sign.”

But Gibson’s eagerness to finish what he started is, the manager said. “There was some lobbying going on. I like that,” Molitor said. “I think he knows I have a lot of confidence in what he does. … But a solid eight [innings], he’s feeling good, it’s time to get Glen [Perkins] in there.”

Perkins gave up a couple of hits and gave Chicago some hope, but he struck out Tyler Flowers on three pitches with runners on second and third to end the game and earn his seventh save in seven opportunities.

The Twins, meanwhile, weren’t much better offensively, managing just seven hits off Chicago starter Jose Quintana. But they scored just enough, and the source of that run was as rare as the 1-0 score itself.

“It’s not too often when Kennys Vargas steals a run,” Molitor laughed.

That’s what happened, though, after Vargas, the speed-challenged slugger, led off the fifth inning with a single, and moved to second when Shane Robinson followed with one of his own. Molitor considered a sacrifice bunt from Danny Santana, but “that’s risky because the chance for a force at third is increased with [Vargas] out there.” Santana struck out, but Brian Dozier flew deep to center, deep enough to allow Vargas to tag up and move to third.

“We all held our breath when he went back to tag,” Molitor said. “He read the ball to be caught, which was good.”

And when Quintana bounced a fastball in the dirt and it got past Flowers, Vargas roared home, scoring standing up. “Turns out, him advancing was a big play,” Molitor beamed.

It’s the first time Gibson has held a team scoreless since July 29 in Kansas City, 15 starts ago. That streak appeared likely to extend to 16 when Adam LaRoche singled with one out in the second inning and Avisail Garcia followed with a double that carried over center fielder Shane

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Robinson’s head. Gibson hit Conor Gillaspie with a pitch to load the bases, but escaped unscathed when Flowers hit a sharp grounder to Danny Santana at shortstop, a ball that quickly turned into an inning-ending double play.

Garcia drew Gibson’s only walk of the game in the seventh inning, moved up when Gillaspie hit a one-out single, and was on third after Flowers hit into a force out. But J.B. Shuck lined softly to Trevor Plouffe at third base, and Gibson remained unscored upon.

“You don’t really worry about the scoreboard. At the end of my outing, my goal each time is to have the team in the game,” said Gibson, who was on the mound for the Twins’ only other 1-0 victory in the past four years, last May 5 at Cleveland. “Sometimes, like today, that means throwing up zeros. But I still have to execute.”

Twins place Tim Stauffer on DL, recall Ryan Pressly

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 2, 2015

Twins right-hander Tim Stauffer was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right intercostal muscle and fellow righty Ryan Pressly was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

Stauffer, 32, was signed this offseason as a free agent after spending his entire career in the San Diego Padres organization. Signed for $2.2 million on a one-year deal, Stauffer has struggled to an 8.38 earned-run average in 9 2/3 innings while pitching almost exclusively in long relief.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said Stauffer's side has been bothering him for the past week or so. The Twins' training staff was aware of the injury, which likely hampered the veteran pitcher in terms of velocity on his fastball and extension on his breaking pitches.

"I don't feel that the results are there. He knows that," Molitor said. "He understands. He was great. The best chance for him to help our team is to make sure whatever he's dealing with is not inhibiting him from pitching at his best."

While left-hander Brian Duensing remains on track to be activated Saturday, the soonest he can return from his intercostal strain, Molitor suggested Stauffer could be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns.

"I want it to be a non-factor when he starts to pitch again -- and hopefully it's in the short term," Molitor said. "Hopefully he can start feeling what he needs to feel like to get hitters out up here consistently."

Arm strength and velocity were issues for Stauffer throughout spring training and into the season's first month.

He did, however, hit 91 mph on the stadium radar gun in Wednesday's 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Handed a 7-3 lead to start the sixth inning, Stauffer allowed home runs to Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez along with a single to Nick Castellanos before being removed after securing just two outs.

Molitor said there are no concerns about Stauffer's throwing shoulder or elbow, both of which had troubled him with the Padres over the years.

Pressly, 26, posted a 4.50 ERA in seven relief outings (10 innings) for the Red Wings. A former Rule 5 pick from the Boston Red Sox, the native Texan has made 74 combined appearances over the past two seasons for the Twins.

Minnesota Twins: Phil Hughes set to start Monday against A’s

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 1, 2015

Twins right-hander Phil Hughes was able to throw his normal side session Friday, two days after leaving his last start with a strained left hip flexor.

Hughes assured Twins manager Paul Molitor that he "aired it out" and was fine to make Monday's scheduled start against the Oakland A's.

"Whatever happened happened that day (Wednesday), and it was real enough to have to do something about it," Molitor said. "If it's calmed down to a point ... and he told me, 'I'm good to go,' I'm going to just trust in that."

Hughes, who has yet to miss a start since signing with the Twins two offseasons ago, said he felt "no sharp pain, nothing to be concerned about" after throwing in the bullpen.

"It's as sore as anything would be after a couple days," he said.

Although he had to back up third and home far more than usual against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, Hughes said after his start that wasn't what caused the tightness in his hip flexor. Rather, it was the constant pounding the area took as he strode toward the plate on a 70-pitch afternoon.

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"I attribute it more to the impact," he said. "My foot was kind of sticking in the clay and not really releasing through."

By healing quickly, Hughes stays on track to start on Star Wars Night, when fans will receive a "Hughes the Force" bobblehead of the Twins' Opening Day starter. Hughes is depicted in an Anakin Skywalker tunic and wielding a tiny light saber.

"Can't mess with fate like that," Hughes said with a laugh.

"That's a destiny sort of thing right there. I used the Force, and I'm ready to go."

The Twins' marketing department initially offered Hughes 10 of the first big-league bobbleheads ever made in his image.

"I said, 'Can you do 40?' They said all right," Hughes said.

And that still might not be enough to satisfy all of the pitcher's friends and family members.

"Everybody's asking me for one," he said. "I wanted a bunch."

Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson pitches gem in 1-0 win

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 2, 2015

Walking off the field after a five-pitch eighth inning, still clinging to a narrow lead and a four-hit shutout, Kyle Gibson spotted Twins manager Paul Molitor waiting for him at the top step of the dugout.

Gibson's pitch count was still manageable at 94, but the right-hander could sense his work was probably done.

"I shook his hand, didn't really let go for awhile," Gibson said Friday night after a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. "I said, 'Mollie -- hey, I want that inning.' "

Molitor, who has yet to have a starter work nine innings a month into his tenure, appreciated the sentiment but wasn't about to let himself be swayed. He had a "fresh closer" in Glen Perkins out in the bullpen, so the decision had already been made.

"There was some lobbying going on. I like that," Molitor said of Gibson. "I think he knows I have a lot of confidence in what he does. I'm trying to instill that in as many people as we can here early, give them an opportunity to work out of their own situations, but it was time to get Glen in there."

Even after the Twins put their first two runners on in the eighth, threatening to pad Gibson's lead, Molitor stood firm.

"I wanted to win the game," he said. "Whether it was two or three or four (runs), Glen was going to come in the game."

Molitor was well aware of the matchup swing. Rather than let his starter face dangerous White Sox cleanup hitter Jose Abreu, 0 for 6 with three strikeouts (two of them Friday) against Gibson, he brought in a lefty closer against whom Abreu was 4 for 6 with a homer and two walks.

"I know the numbers," Molitor said. "That's not something you would do if you were just going to strictly use that information. I think Glen's been throwing the ball really well. For whatever reason, Abreu's done a little bit of damage in a small sample size."

The homer cost the Twins a game late last season in Chicago, but Perkins wasn't healthy. This year, he's back to pumping 94 mph fastballs and breaking off sharp sliders.

"At the end of the game," Molitor said, "your closer is supposed to get people out."

Perkins fell behind 3-1 to Abreu, a right-handed slugger who claimed American League Rookie of the Year honors and finished fourth in most valuable player voting after a 36-homer debut in 2014. Then he came back to get him to pop to first on the seventh pitch of the showdown -- all fastballs.

"Abreu was a big out, especially after falling behind," Molitor said, "and then they followed with a couple knocks."

A pair of singles and a fielding error by Eduardo Escobar in left field put the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with two outs. Rather than walk righty-hitting Tyler Flowers, the No. 8 batter, to potentially face the lefty-swinging J.B. Shuck, Molitor darted out to let Perkins know the plan.

"I didn't ask him," Molitor said. "I said, 'I don't want to walk this guy.' He agreed. It was a brief meeting. I knew they were limited with their options and Shuck was on deck, but just like Abreu, you've got your guy out there. I'm going to go after that guy."

Perkins struck out Flowers on three pitches to earn his seventh save.

The Twins snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth, thanks to the base-running prowess of Kennys Vargas, who tagged up to take third and scored on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch to Torii Hunter.

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The Twins (11-12) pulled within a game of .500 for the first time since Opening Day. They have gone 10-6 since a disastrous opening week.

It was the just the second 1-0 win for the Twins since the start of the 2012 season; they won 1-0 at Cleveland in 10 innings last May 5. Gibson also started that one, working seven innings of two-hit ball.

Carl Pavano remains the last Twins starter to win a 1-0 complete game, beating the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 28, 2011.

After the game, the Twins activated Saturday starter Ricky Nolasco and lefty reliever Brian Duensing off the disabled list. To make room, they optioned lefties Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar to Triple-A Rochester.

Updated Twinsights: Side issue sends Tim Stauffer to disabled list

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 1, 2015

Twins right-hander Tim Stauffer was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right intercostal muscle and fellow righty Ryan Pressly was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

Stauffer, 32, was signed this offseason as a free agent after spending his entire career in the San Diego Padres organization. Signed for $2.2 million on a one-year deal, Stauffer has struggled to an 8.38 earned run average in 9 2/3 innings while pitching almost exclusively in long relief.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said Stauffer’s side has been bothering him for the past week or so. The Twins’ training staff was aware of the injury, which likely hampered the veteran pitch in terms of velocity on his fastball and extension on his breaking pitches.

“I don’t feel that the results are there. He knows that,” Molitor said. “He understands. He was great. The best chance for him to help our team is to make sure whatever he’s dealing with is not inhibiting him from pitching at his best.”

While left-hander Brian Duensing remains on track to be activated Saturday, the soonest he can return from his intercostal strain, Molitor suggested Stauffer could be sent on a minor-league rehab assignment before he returns.

“I want it to be a non-factor when he starts to pitch again — and hopefully it’s in the short term,” Molitor said. “Hopefully he can start feeling what he needs to feel like to get hitters out up here consistently.”

Arm strength and velocity were issues for Stauffer throughout spring training and into the season’s first month. He did, however, hit 91 mph on the stadium radar gun in Wednesday’s 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Handed a 7-3 lead to start the sixth inning, Stauffer allowed home runs to Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez along with a single to Nick Castellanos before being removed after securing just two outs.

Molitor said there are no concerns about Stauffer’s throwing shoulder or elbow, both of which had troubled him with the Padres over the years.

Pressly, 26, had posted a 4.50 ERA in seven relief outings (10 innings) for the Red Wings. A former Rule 5 pick from the Boston Red Sox, the native Texan has made 74 combined appearances over the past two seasons for the Twins.

Twinsights: ‘Hughes the Force’ promotion will feature namesake after all

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 1, 2015

Twins right-hander Phil Hughes was able to throw his normal side session on Friday, two days after leaving his last start with a strained left hip flexor.

Hughes assured Twins manager Paul Molitor that he “aired it out” and was fine to make Monday’s scheduled start against the Oakland A’s.

“Whatever happened that day (Wednesday), and it was real enough to have to do something about it,” Molitor said. “If it’s calmed down to a point … and he told me, ‘I’m good to go,’ I’m going to just trust in that.”

Hughes, who has yet to miss a start since signing with the Twins two offseasons ago, said he felt “no sharp pain, nothing to be concerned about” after throwing in the bullpen.

“It’s as sore as anything would be after a couple days,” he said.

Although he had to back up third and home far more than usual against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, Hughes said after his start that wasn’t what caused the tightness in his hip flexor. Rather, it was the constant pounding the area took as he strode toward the plate on a 70-pitch afternoon.

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“I attribute it more to the impact,” he said. “My foot was kind of sticking in the clay and not really releasing through.”

By healing quickly, Hughes stays on track to start on Star Wars Night, when lucky fans will receive a “Hughes the Force” bobblehead of the Twins’ Opening Day starter. Hughes is depicted in an Anakin Skywalker tunic and wielding a tiny light saber.

“Can’t mess with fate like that,” Hughes said with a laugh. “That’s a destiny sort of thing right there. I used the Force and I’m ready to go.”

The Twins’ marketing department initially offered Hughes 10 of the first big-league bobblehead ever made in his image.

“I said, ‘Can you do 40?’ They said all right,” Hughes said.

And that still might not be enough to satisfy all of the pitcher’s friends and family members.

“Everybody’s asking me for one,” he said. “I wanted a bunch.”

Twinsights: Paul Molitor entertains jug, pig in his office on Gophers night

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 1, 2015

Twins manager Paul Molitor had a couple of special visitors in his office before Friday’s game: The Little Brown Jug and Floyd of Rosedale.

They were at Target Field as part of University of Minnesota Night. President Eric Kaler threw out the first pitch, and Goldy the Gopher was on hand as well.

“I have a tremendous amount of allegiance to the university for the opportunities they presented me a long time ago,” said Molitor, a member of the school’s athletic hall of fame. “It’s kind of fun to follow the program. I like getting out there for the basketball games and the football games every now and then.”

Before last season, the Gophers’ football program hadn’t defeated Michigan (jug) and Iowa (pig) in the same season since 1967.

“To have the jug and the pig here in the office, that’s a pretty good thing,” Molitor said. “It’s not too often we get to see these two relics together.”

Fans who purchased the special U of M Night package received a special maroon-and-gold Twins cap.

Molitor is one of four ex-Gophers currently managing or coaching in one of the four major sports. The others are Flip Saunders (Minnesota Timberwolves), Kevin McHale (Houston Rockets) and Todd Richards (Columbus Blue Jackets).

Postgame Twinsights: Torii Hunter recounts latest brain-rattling collision

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 2, 2015

Torii Hunter may be 2 1/2 months shy of his 40th birthday, but that didn’t stop him from making a leaping catch at the wall in right to rob Conor Gillaspie of extra bases to start the fourth inning Friday night.

Hitting the padded wall with the back of his right shoulder, Hunter said after this 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox that he “kind of jammed” his shoulder but should be fine.

“I’m all right,” he said. “I’ll see how I feel tomorrow. It won’t stop me. I ran into a lot of walls and I lost every last one of them. Never defeated a wall.”

After landing on the warning track and doing a backwards somersault, Hunter was initially disoriented.

“When I stood up it kind of jarred my brain because I hit the wall pretty hard,” he said. “I rolled over and threw the ball in and I just kind of got dizzy. That’s just from running into something.”

Hunter, then with the Detroit Tigers, famously suffered a concussion in the 2013 American League Championship Series, when he launched himself over the low wall in right field in pursuit of a David Ortiz grand slam. Although Twins manager Paul Molitor said Hunter “kind of rung his bell a little bit” Friday, Hunter dismissed any concerns of a possible concussion.

“I’m good. No concussion,” he said. “I’m straight. I’m OK.”

The new padding, installed late last season after Sam Fuld and Aaron Hicks suffered concussions on consecutive days in center field one year ago at this time, definitely helped, Hunter said.

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“I never ran into the wall here before the padding, but that felt pretty good actually,” he said. “I’ve run into a lot of walls in my career. I know that’s one of the soft ones. Seattle’s got the hardest one. It wins every time.”

–Friday was a busy day in the transactions column for the Twins bullpen.

After recalling reliever Ryan Pressly to replace the struggling Tim Stauffer, placed on the disabled list with an intercostal strain before the game, the Twins activated Ricky Nolasco (Saturday’s starter) and lefty Brian Duensing off the DL.

To make room, they shipped lefties Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar to Triple-A Rochester. Milone had been demoted to the bullpen a day earlier when it became clear Trevor May would be sticking around.

The new rotation is Phil Hughes, May, Kyle Gibson, Nolasco and Mike Pelfrey — all right-handers.

“There was a fight in spring training for rotation spots. He earned it,” Molitor said. of Milone. “Other than his first start, he had a little trouble with his aggressiveness in the strike zone. He doesn’t belong in the bullpen up here. He needs to go start. We need to keep our inventory strong there because things happen quickly. Hopefully he’ll go down there and get after it. If we need somebody, he can be a guy we can call.”

Milone, who had given up nine walks and five home runs over his past three starts (15 innings), vowed to nibble less and return as soon as possible. He joins a rotation that could include as many as three other lefties (Taylor Rogers, Jason Wheeler and Pat Dean) along with right-hander Alex Meyer.

Swingman Mark Hamburger could return to the bullpen after a rocky first month.

“It is a little bit of a shock,” Milone said. “That’s what this sport does to you sometimes. You take it for what it is.”

This is the second straight year he has been shipped to Triple-A despite winning a combined 25 games for the Oakland A’s in 2012-13.

“It’s definitely frustrating but I can’t let that get to me,” Milone said. “I have to go down there and do work and hopefully get back up here as soon as possible.”

Milone is making $2.775 million this year after entering the arbitration system for the first time. Stauffer was signed at $2.2 million as a free agent in December.

–Kennys Vargas, who was out early Friday working on his fielding, got plenty of action on the bases after singling twice and scoring the game’s only run.

“He was running all over the place today,” Hunter said.

After Vargas stunned everybody in the Twins dugout by tagging up and taking third on Brian Dozier’s fly to center in the fifth, the 280-plus pounder raced home when Jose Quintana bounced a 1-2 breaking ball to Hunter.

Neither third-base coach Gene Glynn nor Hunter ever hesitated in waving Vargas, who scored without drawing a throw.

“I was like, ‘Come on, run!’ ” Hunter said. “This guy pitching is nasty right now. Flowers doesn’t let too many balls go by him like that. I just told him to come on: ‘Let’s go, big boy. Run! You’re not running!’ ”

Certainly Quintana wouldn’t have wanted any part of a home-plate collision with Vargas running at full steam.

“Oh, no,” Hunter said. “That’s a bus — and another bus.”

–Hunter also was understandably impressed with Gibson, work worked eight innings for the third time in 46 career starts.

“Gibson was filthy,” he said. “He had the ball moving all over the place. His two-seamer (had) late life. To get (Jose) Abreu to swing like that, you must have good stuff. He had the slider working, the curveball. The ball was going at a down angle. He’s, what, 6-foot-20? The guy has been pitching well for us. He’s been picking us up of late. I definitely think he’s probably the No. 1 guy right now.”

–Danny Santana had another tough night at shortstop.

He booted Alexei Ramirez’s grounder to his backhand in the third inning, then threw high trying to get Ramirez on another grounder to start the sixth.

That gave Santana eight errors in his first 20 games back at shortstop after spending the bulk of last season as a fill-in center fielder.

Only Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond (nine errors) has committed more errors at any position through the season’s first month.

‘After the second error, Danny was getting some water,” Gibson said. “I just went up to him and said, ‘Hey, there’s not another guy — no offense to (Eduardo) Escobar or any other shortstop — we want back there. We’re confident in him. We want to make sure he keeps his confidence because he’s a good shortstop. Keeps a lot of balls on the infield. He’s got a great arm. Everybody’s seen that all year. We just don’t want him to lose confidence because he’s great back there.”

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Santana also was right in the middle of two double plays that helped Gibson work through some trouble.

–Santana also suffered his team-leading 25th strikeout with two on and nobody out in the fifth, when the game was still scoreless.

Why didn’t Molitor bunt there with Santana, who already has dropped three successful sacrifice bunts? The fact Vargas was the lead runner at second had more than a little to do with it.

“It was early in the game to consider pinch running,” Molitor said. “I had thought about a scenario if we got first and second with Kennys, what we could maybe do with Danny. The sacrifice or the bunt for a base hit is all risky just because the chance of a force at third is increased with him out there.

“I didn’t think it was a critical point where I wanted to run for him that early in the game. I’m hoping Danny puts the ball in play. He’s a tough guy to double up. There’s a lot of things I was trying to envision and ways we could potentially score there. I didn’t really want to take the risk of trying to bunt Kennys over to third.”

So, of course, Vargas proceeded to beat the White Sox with his legs.

“It’s not too often,” Molitor said, “when Kennys Vargas steals a run.”

–Former Twins slugger Josh Willingham, who retired last winter, was at the game with his family.

Afterward, the Hammer took his three young boys into the clubhouse, just like old times, and the Willingham boys no doubt wondered what Torii Hunter was doing in their daddy’s old locker.

No word yet on if the Hammer Gang is staying through Star Wars Night on Monday.

Noesi finds way back to mound against Twins

Scott Merkin | MLB.com | May 1, 2015

Hector Noesi remains a part of the White Sox starting rotation, despite making just his third start of the season Saturday afternoon at Target Field.

Noesi took the mound for the home opener for the White Sox on April 10, but didn't pitch again until April 21. He was scheduled to start at Camden Yards on Monday, but his start was skipped when civil unrest in Baltimore caused two games to be postponed. He has an 0-5 record with a 4.89 ERA over his last seven starts, and is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA lifetime against the Twins.

Ricky Nolasco will be activated from the disabled list to make the start for the Twins on Saturday. Nolasco marks the third of four right-handers facing the White Sox in this series after he was sidelined by right elbow inflammation.

Things to know about this game

• Adam Eaton missed Friday's contest with flu-like symptoms and might not be available for Saturday afternoon's contest. According to manager Robin Ventura, the flu is making its way through the White Sox clubhouse.

"I'm going to stay away from him, physically and baseball-wise," Ventura said. "We have a few guys that have something similar. Some are worse than others. We have something floating around."

Ventura joked that the White Sox were going to eliminate high-fives for the time being.

• Nolasco, who made just one start before going on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow, gave up just an unearned run over five innings in a rehab outing with Class A Cedar Rapids on Sunday. He threw 67 pitches, so he's expected to be limited to roughly 85 pitches.

• Since the start of the 2013 season, the White Sox have posted a 61-112 record on the road. That .353 winning percentage is the second-lowest in the Majors during that time behind the Rockies at .328.

• The Twins are also expected to activate left-handed reliever Brian Duensing from the 15-day disabled list. Duensing, who was out with a right intercostal strain, is returning on the first day he is eligible. Fellow left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar is likely to be optioned to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Duensing on the roster.

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Hughes cleared to start as Twins shuffle arms

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, who left his start on Wednesday with a minor flexor strain in his left hip, threw a bullpen session with no issues on Friday and will make his next start on Monday against the A's.

Hughes left his outing after just five innings, as he said he felt tightness that worsened as the game went along. But Hughes was confident it was just a minor injury and after throwing his bullpen on Wednesday, he will make his scheduled start.

"He reported he's ready to pitch on Monday," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "That's obviously good news for us."

The Twins will also activate right-hander Ricky Nolasco (elbow inflammation) and left-handed reliever Brian Duensing (right intercostal strain) from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday. To make room on the 25-man roster, the club optioned left-handers Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar to Triple-A Rochester following Friday night's 1-0 victory over the White Sox. Also on Friday, the club placed reliever Tim Stauffer on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain, and called up right-hander Ryan Pressly.

"I understand what they're trying to do," Milone said. "They feel like they have their best five up here, and they want me to go down there and get work as a starter instead of being up here and toil around in the bullpen."

Nolasco will start against the White Sox on Saturday, while Duensing will head to the bullpen.

Nolasco threw 67 pitches in a rehab start with Class A Cedar Rapids on Sunday, and is expected to be limited to about 85 pitches on Saturday. But he's excited to be back, as he made just one start this year before being placed on the DL.

"I'm just glad to be getting back to normal and to being on my five days," Nolasco said. "I want to start building on that and start pitching deep into games."

Intercostal strain lands Stauffer on DL

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins placed right-handed reliever Tim Stauffer on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain on Friday, and recalled right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly from Triple-A Rochester.

Stauffer has struggled early this season, posting an 8.38 ERA in eight appearances. He's struck out two and walked six in 9 2/3 innings. The 32-year-old also had a rough Spring Training (8.31 ERA in 13 innings), and he has seen his velocity dip compared to recent seasons. Stauffer's fastball has averaged 88.6 mph after averaging 91.7 mph in 2013 and 90.6 mph in '14, according to fangraphs.com.

"Timmy has been having a little bit of an issue with a right intercostal," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He's been treating it for the last week or so. It's one of those situations where it's a guy who pitched with an injury. We've certainly been aware of it with our training staff, but it kind of came to a point where I talked to Timmy and I don't think the results are there. And he knows that, so the best chance for him to help our team is to make sure what he's dealing with isn't inhibiting him from pitching his best."

Molitor said it's too early to know for sure, but said the injury could be the cause for Stauffer's velocity issues early this season.

"I think your mind has a way of protecting your body and if you can't extend and finish your pitches, even if it's just subconscious, it could affect not only your velocity but your offspeed stuff, too," Molitor said. "So we'll find out long term if that's been a factor."

Stauffer, who joined the Twins on a $2.2 million deal in the offseason, was serving as the club's long reliever.

Pressly, 26, made seven relief appearances for Rochester, posting a 4.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts and six walks in 10 innings. He has a career 3.60 ERA, with 63 strikeouts and 35 walks in 105 innings with the Twins over the last two seasons.

"His outings have been a little bit hot and cold," Molitor said. "But [Twins general manager] Terry [Ryan] was impressed with the pitches he was using out there. If he's not throwing it over, that's when he gets in trouble. But the velocity is good and the sharpness is there, it's just about throwing it in the zone. We know he has big league stuff."

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Gibson directs shutout with 8 scoreless

Rhett Bollinger and Scott Merkin | MLB.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyle Gibson outdueled lefty Jose Quintana, as the right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings to lead the Twins to a 1-0 win over the White Sox on Friday night at Target Field.

Gibson scattered just four hits and a walk with four strikeouts, including Jose Abreu swinging twice. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by getting Tyler Flowers to ground into an inning-ending double play. He also ran into trouble into the seventh, with runners at the corners and two out, but he got J.B. Shuck to line out softly to third.

But with 94 pitches through eight frames, the Twins went to closer Glen Perkins for the ninth inning and he was able to throw a scoreless inning -- stranding the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base -- to record his seventh save and hand the White Sox their third straight loss. Chicago is 2-9 on the road this season.

Quintana was also impressive, giving up just one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings, but he was stuck with the hard-luck loss. The Twins scored their lone run in the fifth on a wild pitch with two outs.

"Today was won by a passed ball," Twins right fielder Torii Hunter said. "I've seen it all. It was a great battle by both teams."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Vargas uses legs for first run: At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Kennys Vargas isn't known for his speed, but he made two solid baserunning decisions in the fifth to get the Twins on the board. Vargas tagged up from second on a deep fly ball to center from Brian Dozier, and scored on a wild pitch from Quintana.

"It's not too often when Kennys Vargas steals a run," Twins manager Paul Molitor said with a smile.

Offense's worst enemy: Adam LaRoche's single, Avisail Garcia's double and Conor Gillaspie getting hit by a pitch on a 1-2 count loaded the bases with one out in the second against Gibson. But Flowers grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Twins flash the leather in the fifth: Gillaspie connected on a deep drive to right field to open the fifth, but he was robbed of extra bases by Hunter, who made a leaping catch at the wall. Flowers followed with a single before Shuck hit a hard grounder toward first that was snared by a diving Joe Mauer, who was able to get Flowers at second. Micah Johnson hit another solid grounder to second, but Dozier made a sliding play and threw to first to get the final out of the inning.

"I think Torii's catch impacted it a lot," Gibson said. "Mainly, because starting out an inning with a guy on second is a big difference. Any time you start off an inning against a good team with a double, more than likely, you're going to give up a run."

A better fate deserved: Quintana has allowed three earned runs on 13 hits over his last 14 innings and has nothing to show for the effort. He endured the loss on Friday by virtue of Minnesota's run in the fifth, but he struck out five and walked two over his 105 pitches and seven innings.

HONORING A LEGEND Prior to Friday's contest, White Sox players and coaches wore sweatbands with "No. 9" and the word "Gracias" to honor franchise legend Minnie Minoso. Minoso became the first black player to suit up for the White Sox 64 years ago on this day, when he homered in his first at-bat against the Yankees. The White Sox are wearing No. 9 uniform patches throughout this season to honor Minoso, who passed away on March 1, 2015, at the age of 90. His 17-year-career spanned five decades.

REPLAY REVIEW Give White Sox manager Robin Ventura credit for staving off the Twins' first run on Friday. With two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth, Eduardo Escobar hit a grounder in the hole that shortstop Alexei Ramirez made a sliding grab of and a one-hop throw to Abreu. Umpire Marvin Hudson ruled Escobar safe, meaning a run would have scored, but Ventura's challenge led to the call being overturned and the inning being over.

WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: Hector Noesi makes just his third start of the season and first on the road Saturday afternoon at Target Field. Noesi started the home opener on April 10 and then pitched again on April 21 against the Indians.

Twins: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco is set to be activated from the 15-day disabled list to start on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. CT. He made just one start before going on the DL with right elbow inflammation. He gave up just an unearned run over five innings in a rehab outing with Class A Cedar Rapids on Sunday.

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Gibson putting consistency issues to bed

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- While Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson showed some signs of being a solid starter in his first full season in the Majors last year, he was still plagued by consistency issues.

Those issues showed up in his first start of the season against the Tigers, when he gave up six runs over just 3 2/3 innings on April 9, but he's been on a roll since. The sinkerballer was at it again on Friday night, as he tossed eight scoreless innings to lead the Twins to a 1-0 win over the White Sox.

Gibson has allowed just six runs over 28 2/3 innings in his last four starts for a 1.88 ERA, and his performance against the White Sox was his best of the season, as he scattered just four hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

"I think it was one of those nights where, once I got into a groove, things were going pretty good," Gibson said. "A lot of credit goes to [catcher Kurt Suzuki] and the defense. They made some big plays and were at the right spots at the right times."

The defense did help Gibson, as the Twins turned an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the second inning, and Torii Hunter made a leaping catch at the wall in right field to rob Conor Gillaspie of extra bases in the fifth. But Gibson deserved plenty of credit for working his way out of a few jams, and struck out Jose Abreu twice.

"Eight zeros is a good place to start," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He got into some trouble early, but got the double-play ball. We made some nice plays defensively. Torii out there in right. He just found ways to have good crisp innings."

Molitor was faced with the decision to stick with Gibson, who had thrown 94 pitches, or go to closer Glen Perkins in the ninth. But Molitor said he was always going to go with a fresh arm in Perkins, and it worked out, even though the White Sox had runners at second and third with two outs, as Perkins was able to strike out Tyler Flowers to end the game.

"He wanted to come back out for the ninth and I don't blame him, because his pitch count would've allowed him to do that," Molitor said. "But I had my fresh closer, so I went with that."

Gibson lobbied to stay in for the ninth, but said he isn't one to question Molitor, especially considering Perkins has been an All-Star each of the last two seasons.

Twins place struggling reliever Stauffer on DL, recall Pressly

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins on Friday placed struggling right-handed reliever Tim Stauffer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right intercostal, the team announced.

Stauffer had a bad spring training after signing a one-year, $2.2 million deal in late December, and he's followed that up with a bad April. In eight appearances, Stauffer has allowed nine earned runs across 9 2/3 innings of work. He's struck out two batters and walked six, and the Twins have mostly avoided using him in high-leverage situations.

To replace Stauffer, the Twins recalled Ryan Pressly from Triple-A Rochester.

Pressly, a former Rule 5 pick from the Red Sox organization, has allowed five earned runs in 10 innings for the Red Wings. He's struck out 15 batters compared with six walks.

Earlier this week I advocated for the Twins to recall Lester Oliveros to help fix their underwhelming bullpen. The Twins passed on Oliveros in favor of Michael Tonkin and now Pressly.

My best guess as to why the Twins wouldn't recall Oliveros (who has a 19:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio for Rochester) is because he's not on the 40-man roster and is out of minor league options. To be called up, Oliveros would need to be added to the 40-man, meaning the Twins would have to take somebody else's spot. And then to send Oliveros to the minors in the future, should the need arise, would require sending him through waivers.

So instead the Twins have gone with the safer plays in Tonkin and Pressly.

It'll be interesting to see what pitching moves they make when Brian Duensing and Ricky Nolasco are activated from the disabled list.

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Twins send Milone, Thielbar to Triple-A, activate Nolasco, Duensing

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ricky Nolasco will be activated from the disabled list to start for the Twins on Saturday, and lefty reliever Brian Duensing also will be activated.

Those two moves made a logjam on the active roster, so the Twins optioned pitchers Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar to Triple-A Rochester. Thielbar had recently been recalled as a left-handed bullpen reinforcement, but demoting Milone comes as a bit of a surprise.

In four starts Milone had a 4.76 ERA, with a 13:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins talked to him about being more aggressive in the strike zone and attacking hitters. In other words, he needs to cut down on the walks.

"I understand what they're trying to do. They feel like they have the best five starting guys here and for me to get work as a starter it's better to go down there than to stay up here and just kind of toil around in the bullpen," Milone said.

"It's a little bit of a shock but that's what this sport does to you sometimes."

Milone has pitched 513 MLB innings and owns a 4.02 ERA, with time spent in both the American and National leagues.

He was in competition during spring training for a spot in the starting rotation and won the job and had a real nice first start. His three starts after that outing haven't been quite as good, and he's walked too many batters his last few times out. In his past three starts, Milone has pitched 15 innings and allowed 12 earned runs, with a 6:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

As for Nolasco, he was on the DL with elbow inflammation and made one rehab start in low-A Cedar Rapids. He's expected to be on a loose pitch count of roughly 80-90 pitches Saturday.

Gibson gets through 8 shutout innings, Twins beat White Sox, 1-0

Associated Press | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- One run was plenty for Kyle Gibson on Friday night.

Gibson pitched eight strong innings, Kennys Vargas scored on a wild pitch and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 1-0 Friday night.

Glen Perkins pitched a tense ninth inning for his seventh save to give the Twins their fifth win in seven games. Chicago had runners on second and third with two outs in its last at-bat, but Tyler Flowers struck out looking.

Gibson (2-2) gave up just four hits, struck out four and walked one. After a rough first start of the season where he gave up six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, Gibson has posted a 2.03 ERA over his last four outings, allowing just six earned runs in 26 2/3 innings.

"There's times where when I execute I'm pretty confident," he said.

Torii Hunter added: "I definitely think he's probably the No. 1 guy right now."

Jose Quintana (1-2) allowed six hits and one earned run in seven innings for the White Sox, whose offensive woes continued.

"He was sharp, he got into a couple binds and he battled through it," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "The (wild pitch) is just one of those youd like to have back."

Chicago has scored four runs in its past three games. Adam LaRoche had two hits.

"The handful of pitches (Gibson) left up, we hit them hard. Were going through one of those stretches where were just not getting in going, across the board. Itll turn, just sucks going through it," LaRoche said.

Minnesota broke a scoreless tie in the fifth.

Vargas and Shane Robinson led off with singles and were on second and third with two outs when Quintana threw a pitch in the dirt on a 1-2 count to Hunter allowing Vargas -- listed at 6-foot-5 and 289 pounds in the media guide -- to rumble in from third base standing up.

In the top of the inning, Hunter made a catch before crashing into the wall to rob leadoff hitter Conor Gillaspie and, after a single by Flowers, Joe Mauer dove to his right to start a force play at second base.

"Torii's catch was important mainly because starting off an inning with a guy on second before there's one out is a big difference," Gibson said.

Chicago had the bases loaded and one out in the second, but Flowers grounded into a double play.

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Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Kurt Suzuki struck out on a check-swing that would have been ball four.Eduardo Escobar then hit a ground ball deep in the hole at short. Alexei Ramirez's throw to first was ruled late on the field, but video review showed the throw beat Escobar to the bag for the third out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: OF Adam Eaton missed the game with an illness and Ventura said a few other Chicago players are not 100 percent healthy. With Eaton out, 2B Micah Johnson led off for the first time this season and struck out twice.

Twins: RHP Phil Hughes felt no discomfort throwing a bullpen session and remains on track to start Monday against Oakland. Hughes left Wednesday's start with a left hip flexor strain.

MINNESOTA ROSTER MOVES

Minnesota starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco and reliever Brian Duensing were activated off the disabled list after the game. To make room, Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar were sent to Triple-A Rochester.

The Twins also placed RHP Tim Stauffer on the disabled list -- retroactive to April 30 -- with a right intercostal strain and recalled RHP Ryan Pressly from Triple-A Rochester. Stauffer has struggled since signing as a free agent, posting an 8.38 ERA in eight relief appearances while allowing nine earned runs and 16 hits in 9 2/3 innings.

UP NEXT

The teams are scheduled to play the third game of this four-game series Saturday afternoon. Coming off the disabled list, Minnesota's Ricky Nolasco (0-1, 18.00) is scheduled to pitch against Chicago's Hector Noesi (0-2, 5.23). Noesi is 0-5 with a 4.89 ERA in his last seven starts.

Twins minor-league stars of the week: May 1, 2015

Tyler Mason | Fox Sports North | May 1, 2015

With the minor-league season now turning the calendar to May, we take a look at the past week for our second installment of the Twins' minor-league stars of the week, which identifies the top pitcher and catcher at each of Minnesota's four main minor-league affiliates: Triple-A Rochester, Double-A New Britain, High-A Fort Myers and Low-A Cedar Rapids. This week's FOXSportsNorth.com Minor League Player of the Week is Chattanooga first baseman Dalton Hicks, who put on a power display in the past week.

TRIPLE-A ROCHESTER

Player of the Week: OF Aaron Hicks

2015 stats: .310/.398/.493, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 2 SB

Recent highlights: Hicks began the season at Triple-A Rochester after failing to make the Twins' 25-man roster. Minnesota wanted the 25-year-old Hicks to find consistency at the plate, something he couldn't do in his first two major-league seasons. He's done exactly that thus far with Rochester. Entering Friday, Hicks is currently riding an 11-game hitting streak -- he's hitting .400 during that stretch, several of which were attended by Twins general manager Terry Ryan. Hicks has only had two games out of 18 this year that he hasn't reached base, an encouraging sign for an organization that has been waiting for Hicks to figure things out offensively.

Twins GM Terry Ryan said: "He had a couple real good games, and he had a couple that weren't so good. There was a game that he drove the ball well, took three quality at-bats. Not singles; they were extra-base hits, which was encouraging. Maybe more encouraging is they were from the left side of the plate, which is a good thing."

Pitcher of the Week: LHP Taylor Rogers

DOUBLE-A CHATTANOOGA

Player of the Week: 1B Dalton Hicks

2015 stats: .333/.436/.576, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 5 2B in 18 games

Recent highlights: Hicks has been on a powerful streak over the past week. All three of his home runs this season have come since Saturday, and he homered on back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday against Tennessee. Hicks also had a four RBI game on Tuesday in Chattanooga's 7-6 loss to the Smokies. This is the first season at Double-A for the former Central Florida product.

Pitcher of the Week: RHP Zack Jones

2015 stats: 0-0, 1.29 ERA, 13 K, 1 BB, 5 saves in 7 games

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Recent highlights: While Chattanooga's starting pitchers struggled a bit this past week, the Lookouts' bullpen was solid. That effort was anchored by Jones, Chattanooga's closer, who had three saves in the last week. In those three outings he allowed just one base runner -- a walk -- and struck out three. Jones is averaging nearly two strikeouts an inning (13 K in 7 IP). A fourth-round pick out of San Jose State back in 2012, Jones is in his first season at the Double-A level. So far, so good for the right-hander.

HIGH-A FORT MYERS

Player of the Week: OF Chad Christensen

2015 stats: .288/.365/.394, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 2B in 17 games

Recent highlights: Fort Myers' offense has continued to struggle -- the Miracle rank dead last in the Florida State league in batting average (.217) and are second-to-last in runs scored (69) -- Christensen has found some consistency at the plate. Over his last six games, Christensen is batting .357 (10-for-28) with a home run. This marks his first season at High-A Fort Myers after playing for Low-A Cedar Rapids last year.

Pitcher of the Week: RHP Chih-Wei Hu

2015 stats: 3-0, 1.50 ERA, 28 K, 3 BB in 24 IP

Recent highlights: Hu is the first player to repeat as a star of the week, as he was also Fort Myers' pitcher of the week last week. It's hard to argue with the results the Taiwan native is having, though. His latest start Thursday against Charlotte in which he struck out eight and gave up just one run on four hits in six innings to earn his third straight victory. Hu's WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) is down to 0.71 on the season, tops among all Fort Myers starters.

LOW-A CEDAR RAPIDS

Player of the Week: CF Zach Granite

2015 stats: .358/.463/.463, 5 RBI, 5 2B, 1 3B in 19 games

Recent highlights: Granite, a 14th-round pick in 2013, is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak, during which he's hitting .361 (13-for-36). That average has been even better over the last week as he's batted .400 (8-for-20) in his last six games. Granite's strong play early in the season earned him a promotion -- he was elevated to High-A Fort Myers on Friday.

Pitcher of the Week: RHP Felix Jorge

2015 stats: 1-1, 1.50 ERA, 24 K, 5 BB in 18 IP

Recent highlights: No pitcher was a clear standout for Cedar Rapids this week, but Jorge gets the nod almost as much for his recent outing as for his entire body of work so far this season. Jorge earned the loss on Saturday against Kane County, but he wasn't helped out much by his offense as the Kernels lost 2-1. In that start, the 21-year-old Jorge struck out five and allowed just four hits in six innings.

Twins send LHP Stauffer to DL, recall Pressly

Tyler Mason | Fox Sports North | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Another Twins pitcher has landed on the disabled list.

Minnesota announced Friday that right-hander Tim Stauffer has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain, the same injury that landed left-hander Brian Duensing on the DL in mid-April. To fill Stauffer's spot on the roster, the Twins recalled right-hander Ryan Pressly from Triple-A Rochester.

Stauffer, signed this offseason as a free agent, pitched in eight games for Minnesota before his DL stint. He had an 8.38 ERA with just two strikeouts and six walks in 9 2/3 innings. His last outing came Wednesday against Detroit in which he allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning, including a pair of home runs.

Pressly pitched in 74 total games with the Twins between 2013 and 2014, posting a combined 3.60 ERA. In seven outings this season with Rochester, the right-hander has a 4.50 ERA with 15 strikeouts and six walks in 10 innings. Pressly is expected to be available for Friday's game against the White Sox at Target Field.

17

Gibson virtually flawless in Twins’ narrow win

Tyler Mason | Fox Sports North | May 1, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyle Gibson wanted the ninth inning.

The Twins right-hander had not previously pitched into the ninth in 45 prior major-league starts. And though he pitched through eight scoreless innings Friday against the White Sox, Gibson knew his day was done when he saw manager Paul Molitor waiting for him in the dugout after the eighth inning.

"I knew that wasn't a good sign," Gibson said. "I shook his hand, didn't really let go for a while and said, 'Mollie, hey, I want that inning.' I'm never going to second-guess him on those decisions."

Though things got a bit dicey in the ninth inning when closer Glen Perkins took over for Gibson, the decision ultimately paid off for the Twins, who held on to beat Chicago by a 1-0 final. Gibson was the story of the game for Minnesota after he allowed just four hits and struck out four in eight scoreless innings.

The Twins' only run of the game came when designated hitter Kennys Vargas barrelled home from third base on a wild pitch by White Sox starter Jose Quintana in the fifth inning. With the way Gibson was throwing the ball Friday and working out of jams, that one proved to be just enough.

Gibson threw 94 pitches through his eight innings and matched his career long for innings pitched in a start. Even though Gibson still felt strong late in the game following a 1-2-3 eighth inning, Molitor had already decided to turn to Perkins to close out the win.

"He wanted to go back out for the ninth, and I can't blame him because his pitch count would have allowed him to do that," Molitor said of Gibson. "But in a one-run game, I had my fresh closer, so we went with that. But Gibby, back-to-back starts where he's been really good."

Friday's outing came five days after Gibson earned a no-decision in Seattle after allowing two runs in seven innings of Minnesota's extra-innings win Sunday. Since his season debut in which he gave up six runs in just 3 2/3 innings, Gibson has been sharp. He's 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his last four starts.

Gibson's emergence has been part of a bigger movement by the Twins' rotation, which has steadied as of late. The rotation is set to get another piece back Saturday as Ricky Nolasco will make his return from the disabled list. Minnesota announced Friday that left-handers Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar will be optioned to Triple-A Rochester to make room for Nolasco and left-handed reliever Brian Duensing.

Minnesota's offense has carried the team in several games as of late. Friday night, it was Gibson doing the heavy lifting -- with some help from his defense.

One of the biggest plays of the night came in the top of the fifth inning when right fielder Torii Hunter made a catch at the wall to take away a potential extra-base hit from Chicago's Conor Gillaspie to lead off the inning. After Hunter made the catch, the fans at Target Field chanted "Torii! Torii! Torii!" just like they used to do during Hunter's first stint with the Twins.

"I think Torii's catch impacted it a lot, mainly because starting off an inning with a guy on second or with one out is a big difference," Gibson said. "Any time you start off an inning against a good team like this with a double, most likely you're going to give up a run unless you can mix in a couple strikeouts. For Torii to sacrifice his body like that and get back to the wall and make that catch was a big catch."

Gibson also received some nice plays by third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who saved a potential run in the seventh by stabbing a grounder at third. Minnesota's defense also turned two double plays behind Gibson, including one to end the second inning after Chicago put runners on second and third with just one out.

"They turned some big double plays, were in the right spot at the right time," Gibson said. "I can't say enough about those guys behind me."

With Friday's win, Minnesota improved to within one game of .500 at 11-12. After several years of futility in the starting rotation, the Twins' starters have seemingly started to turn a corner.

That includes Gibson, who took one step forward last year when he won 13 games. If he has more games like the one he had Friday, he should see his win total increase in 2015.

"We've had confidence in ourselves all season," Gibson said of the rotation. "I think we've got a good group of guys. I think everybody would tell you that. We've got a lot of confidence. I think the way we've been throwing, we like our chances."