Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Playoffs have that ex-Twins flavor. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1

Saturday's Twins-Royals game recap. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3

Twins' Milone steps up for a second time at end. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 4

Is it Hunter's last hurrah? It's a possibility. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 5

Reusse: Pitching, hitting remain problems for Twins. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 5

Twins out of wild-card race with loss to Royals. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 7

Twins' unlikely postseason run ends in 5-1 loss to Royals. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Minnesota Twins: Torii Hunter's son rushing to town for finale. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 9

Twinsights: Neal Cotts open to a return with the Twins. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 10

Postgame Twinsights: Twins have impressed Royals manager Ned Yost. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 10

Charley Walters: Jim Pohlad’s ‘stupid proud’ of his Twins. Pioneer Press (Walters) p. 11

Nolasco tabbed for season finale against Royals. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 12

Torii undecided on his return for 2016 season. MLB.com (Helfand) p. 12

Despite end of postseason hopes, Twins surpass expectations. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 13

Four-run 7th eliminates Twins from Wild Card race. MLB.com (Flanagan & Helfand) p. 14

Torii Hunter undecided, says there’s ‘really good chance’ he’ll retire. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 15

With postseason play out of reach, Nolasco to start Sunday for Twins. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 15

No postseason for Twins: 5-1 loss to Royals eliminates Minnesota. Associated Press p. 16

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Twins knocked out of postseason contention. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 17

Twins eliminated from postseason contention with loss to Royals. NBC Sports (Baer) p. 18

Playoffs have that ex-Twins flavor

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | October 3, 2015

Michael Cuddyer got into the habit of playing postseason baseball during his Minnesota years. He’s rekindled his love for October baseball this year in New York.

“I got to go [to the playoffs] six out of my first nine years” in the majors, the former Twins All-Star said. “And my last four years, I’ve lost 93-plus games. So this feels pretty daggone good.”

The Mets outfielder, who chose New York over a significantly bigger salary in Colorado last winter in part because he believed the Mets were more likely to win, came back strong after a midseason knee injury, batting .313 with an .819 OPS over the season’s final seven weeks to help his new team capture its first division title since 2006.

“I understand what this means to the city, to our fans, because I’ve been going through the same thing,” Cuddyer told mlb.com after the Mets clinched last week. “You just want a chance to play for a championship — that’s why we’re here. And if you don’t get that chance, and suddenly years have gone by, it gets pretty hard to watch others earn something you want so badly.”

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Cuddyer will get that chance this month, and he’s not the only former Twins player who will. In fact, of the 42 former Twins who competed for another team in the majors this season, as many as a dozen could perform on the postseason stage in 2015, some of them with prominent roles.

R.A. Dickey, for instance, will be in the Blue Jays rotation, handed the ball in Toronto’s first postseason since 1993. Same for Francisco Liriano, the 31-year-old lefthander, if the Pirates survive Wednesday’s wild-card game against the Cubs. Cuddyer is a career .338 hitter in 22 postseason games, so he will be in the Mets lineup, while Kendrys Morales, who drove in more than 100 runs this season, bats fifth for the Royals.

Ben Revere has taken over in left field for the Blue Jays since being acquired in a trade-deadline deal, and Chris Colabello has had a career year for Toronto, turning in an .878 OPS, better than every current Twins player but Miguel Sano. And LaTroy Hawkins, who reached the World Series with Colorado in 2007, will take the final bow of a 21-year major league career in a postseason game, perhaps even another championship round.

Assuming the Astros reach the postseason, Park Center High grad Pat Neshek will return to the postseason for the fourth time, carrying a 2.89 ERA in 11 playoff games. And Carlos Gomez will have much attention on him, as he plays in October for the first time since the Brewers reached the NLCS in 2011.

Ironically, one former Twins player who won’t be playing this month is outfielder Delmon Young, who had reached the playoffs in each of the past six seasons. Young was released by Baltimore in June and never found another big-league job.

Players aren’t the only former Twins to watch for in the postseason, either. If the Pirates and Mets reach the championship series, check out that battle of third-base coaches, former Twins players both: Pittsburgh’s Rick Sofield vs. New York’s Tim Teufel.

Former Twins in 2015

Statistics through Friday

Player, team summary

Andrew Albers, Tor Made one relief appearance for Blue Jays but went 2-11 with a 5.70 ERA in Class AAA.

Scott Baker, LAD 5.73 ERA in two starts for Dodgers but 3.39 in AAA; groin injury ended season in July.

Grant Balfour, TB Cut by Rays after a month, tried comeback in AAA; velocity down, he opted out, likely retired.

Joe Beimel, Sea At 38, had another OK year as lefty specialist, but ERA jumped by two runs, to 4.17.

Craig Breslow, Bos So-so year in the bullpen, but made first career start by shutting out Orioles for four innings.

Drew Butera, LAA-KC Cut by Angels in May, defense got him a shot with Royals, where he has hit .200 — a career high.

Chris Colabello, Tor An .878 OPS with 14 homers, he has had stellar season in middle of baseball’s top offense.

Kevin Correia, Phi Made five midseason starts for Phillies, four of them bad, and was released; likely retired.

Michael Cuddyer, NYM Knee, wrist injuries made him part-time player; he’s had some big hits for playoff team.

Samuel Deduno, Hou Made nine appearances, two starts, but a hip injury and surgery ended season in May.

R.A. Dickey, Tor Fifth consecutive season of 200-plus innings, knuckleballer posted 3.91 ERA at age 40.

Pedro Florimon, Pit Steady defense earned him another look, but still can’t hit: 2-for-23 (.087) in majors.

Sam Fuld, Oak Batted .197 for a last-place team, yet his glove kept him in lineup for almost 120 games.

Matt Garza, Mil With 5.63 ERA, refused to pitch out of bullpen, then left team for year Sept. 16.

Carlos Gomez, Mil-Hou After two NL All-Star seasons, power dried up; Astros coveted him for CF range.

J.J. Hardy, Bal Played with torn rotator cuff, may have contributed to awful (.211, .246 OBP) season.

LaTroy Hawkins, Col-Tor Says his 21st MLB season is his last, and it’s a good one: 2.76 ERA in Blue Jays bullpen.

Liam Hendriks, Tor Found a niche as hard-throwing reliever: 71 strikeouts, 2.95 ERA in 64 innings.

Garrett Jones, NYY Released in July after .215 season in 57 games, he will be seeking a spring invite in 2016.

Francisco Liriano, Pit Still only 31, had another strong season (12-7, 3.38), including second 200-K year.

Kyle Lohse, Mil Free-agent-to-be lost spot in rotation by leading NL in earned runs allowed (99).

Jeff Manship, Cle On fourth team in four years, finally a breakthrough: astounding 0.93 ERA in bullpen.

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Jason Marquis, Cin Another comeback try lasted nine mostly ugly starts: a 6.46 ERA and release in May.

Kendrys Morales, KC Royals received what Twins wanted: .847 OPS, 22 homers, 102 RBI as DH.

Justin Morneau, Col Hit .307 but injuries limited him to fewer than 50 games; will Rockies pick up $9 million option?

Joe Nathan, Det Whiffed Torii Hunter, only batter he faced in 2015; second Tommy John surgery may end career.

Pat Neshek, Hou Another stellar bullpen season for five months, then allowed runs five times in September.

David Ortiz, Bos Just keeps rolling: third straight season of 30-plus homers, 100 RBI, and joined 500-HR club.

Chris Parmelee, Bal Batted .219 in six-week look in majors, then broke forearm in August at AAA when hit by pitch.

A.J. Pierzynski, Atl Still productive at 38: caught 106 games, enjoying first .300 season since 2009.

Yohan Pino, KC Bounced between majors and Omaha, got into seven MLB games and wasn’t bad (3.26).

Jason Pridie, Oak Rewarded with September call-up for excellent season (.894 OPS) at AAA Nashville.

Wilson Ramos, Was Steady if unspectacular catcher, hit 15 homers despite worst offensive year of career.

Ben Revere, Phi-Tor Hit .300 for fifth straight year, his defense makes him good fit for powerful Jays.

Rene Rivera, TB Batting crashed to .179, still caught more than 100 games, emblematic of MLB catching shortage.

Denard Span, Was Three DL trips, including labrum surgery, limited pending free agent to 61 games.

Tim Stauffer, NYM Cut in June, resurfaced in Mets bullpen, but hasn’t gone well: five earned runs in 5⅔ innings.

Anthony Swarzak, Cle Lost long-relief job in May, found no MLB takers, wound up in South Korea.

Danny Valencia, Tor-Oak August waiver pickup found new home and had his best MLB season (.864 OPS).

Vance Worley, Pit Bounced from rotation, still OK (4.02) at filling long-relief, spot-start role.

Delmon Young, Bal Cut in June with .628 OPS, his six-year postseason streak is about to end.

Saturday’s Twins-Royals game recap

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | October 3, 2015

game recap

IMPACT PLAYER

Yordano Ventura, Royals

Scattered four hits and struck out 11, making him the sixth pitcher to whiff that many Twins this season.

BY THE NUMBERS

225 Career hits against the Royals by Torii Hunter, the most of any active player.

10 Quality starts by Tommy Milone this season, in 24 opportunities.

126 Days since Ricky Nolasco’s last start, a streak he will end on Sunday.

ON DECK

School’s out at Target Field after one last matinee performance, with Nolasco facing Johnny Cueto.

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Twins’ Milone steps up for a second time at end

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | October 3, 2015

Before their Saturday fell apart and the Twins’ playoff dreams were crushed, Tommy Milone did what he could to keep his club in the game.

He was the epitome of a crafty lefty. He worked the corners, changed speeds, threw offspeed pitches when hitters expected fastballs. He neutralized the Royals for six innings in his final outing of 2015.

“He was wonderful,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said after a 5-1 loss to Kansas City eliminated his team from postseason contention.

In six innings, Milone gave up one run on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Eric Hosmer drilled a first-inning fastball for an RBI double, but that’s all the defending American League champion Royals would get off Milone.

Brian Dozier’s RBI single in the sixth tied the score at 1-1. But Milone didn’t come out for the seventh inning, when the Royals scored four two-out runs against the Twins bullpen. Everything fell apart after Milone left.

Monday, he held Cleveland to two runs over 5⅔ innings in an emergency start after Phil Hughes got sick. Milone backed it up with Saturday’s outing. The timing of these two starts couldn’t have been better.

He blew a 5-0 lead against the Angels on Sept. 17 and was pulled from the rotation because of shoulder fatigue. Milone’s final two outings, showing he can thrive in big games, could influence the Twins as they consider options for their 2016 rotation.

“It’s pretty big,” said Milone, who finished 9-5 with a 3.92 ERA and even a save with the Twins after spending a month dominating at Class AAA Rochester. “Of course, this late in the season, meaningful games this late, I wanted to do whatever I could to come back and help the team. Cleveland, I wasn’t expected to start, but I was able to jump in there and start that first game. It meant a lot to be out there. They had interest in giving me the ball and I wanted to prove that they made the right choice.”

Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco and Hughes are in the middle of big contracts. Kyle Gibson is a year away from being eligible for arbitration. General Manager Terry Ryan has indicated he wants Trevor May to start again. Rookie Tyler Duffey has been a revelation, and top prospect Jose Berrios is knocking on the door.

Competition for a rotation spot will be fierce next season, but Milone, the only lefthander in the group, has showed why he can’t be counted out.

“His last couple starts when Phil went down, there’s value there, there’s no doubt about that,” Molitor said. “We have a lot of questions about how we are going to go forward.”

Nolasco gets finale

Gibson went through his day-before ritual, preparing to start Sunday’s finale despite not being on full rest.

But when the magic number turned to zero, so did Gibson’s assignment. With no playoff shot at stake, Gibson was told his season was over. Instead, Nolasco will make his eighth start, and first since May 31, when an impingement in his right ankle derailed his season.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to throw a few innings and go home healthy,” said Nolasco, who despite a 5.97 ERA is on a five-game winning streak as a starter. “I’ll have that peace of mind going into the offseason.”

Nolasco will be limited to about 50 pitches, Molitor said.

Beginning of the end

Blaine Boyer likely wrapped up a good season Saturday, but it didn’t feel like it. “Eventually I’ll get beyond it, but this is a tough one,” the righthander said. “When it comes down to one pitch — I made my pitch.”

He did, to Lorenzo Cain in the eighth inning, a two-out pitch that should have ended the inning. Cain rolled it down the first-base line, and by the time Boyer could reach it, he didn’t have time to get the ball to Joe Mauer at first for the inning-ending out. Instead, his throw hit Cain, Alcides Escobar scored, and the Royals went on to a decisive four-run inning.

“I tried a Tim Tebow jump-and-throw,” Boyer said. “It was a good pitch, he barely got it and cued it. I’m going to be dwelling on that for a while.”

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Is it Hunter’s last hurrah? It’s a possibility

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | October 3, 2015

Torii Hunter has already had one Minnesota farewell, one that had him wiping away tears on the sleeve of his uniform. He’s trying not to think too much about whether Sunday is his second goodbye.

The 40-year-old outfielder, the undisputed leader of the Twins’ overachieving underdogs, insists he doesn’t know if he will play in 2016, or whether Target Field’s season finale is also the final time he pulls on a major league uniform.

“There’s a possibility this could be my last game,” Hunter said in a somber clubhouse after the Twins’ hopes of a postseason invitation were officially dashed Saturday with a 5-1 loss to the Royals. “There’s a really good chance.”

That’s because he doesn’t know, in the immediate bleakness of elimination, whether he really wants to play past 40, and whether the Twins will invite him back. The latter has been considered a mere formality once Hunter began smashing home runs — 22 in all, with 81 RBI — but he knows better than anyone how many talented outfielders roughly half his age are on their way.

If the Twins suggest he return with quasi-emeritus status, perhaps play half the games? “I wouldn’t come back for that,” said Hunter, who has started 135 games this year. General Manager Terry Ryan has not discussed his plans for the team’s oldest player, but said, “We have a lot of things to talk about.”

Hunter is proud of his season, and proud of the influence he has had on the Twins, having transformed a library-quiet clubhouse into a rollicking, supportive bunch in his return after seven years away.

“It’s just so much fun and satisfying to give it back. All these young guys, seeing them all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, coming over and asking questions, that’s pretty cool,” he said. “For me to give it back and see those guys apply it to their lives and their career, it’s gratifying. It feels good.”

Paul Molitor noticed the difference. “The personality [of the team] was tremendous, reflected primarily by Mr. Hunter,” the Twins manager said. “He encouraged people to go ahead and give us a little flavor.”

Hunter plans to poll his wife, Katrina, and his sons. Torii Jr., a wide receiver at Notre Dame, planned to fly in after the Irish’s game at Clemson on Saturday night to be with his parents for the Twins’ finale.

Hunter heard the opinion of more than 30,000 Saturday, when he was serenaded with a chant of “Tor-ii, Tor-ii,” as he batted in the ninth inning, and a cheer when he drew a walk. “That was awesome,” said Hunter, who received a similarly emotional sendoff from Twins fans in his final home game of 2007, when it became clear the Twins wouldn’t pay to keep him. “Who more than the team I grew up with, the fans I grew up with — they’ve known me since I was 22 years old. I don’t know if this is it. I can’t say that. I can’t do a farewell tour. I definitely think there’s a chance to come back, but right now, I don’t know.”

For now, Hunter’s only plans are to become a modern-day football dad, alternating between Jonesboro, Ark., to see his son Money play for Arkansas State, and South Bend, Ind., to watch Torii Jr. with the Irish. He doesn’t plan to make a decision about 2016 until November, at the earliest, perhaps not until football season ends.

“I’ll sit back and make my decision after I train a little and see if it hurts,” he joked. “If it does, see ya!”

Reusse: Pitching, hitting remain problems for Twins

Patrick Reusse | Star Tribune | October 3, 2015

People associated with professional sports teams have a tendency to get very upset when they are accused of “backing into” a playoff position through the losses of others.

The 2015 Twins did the opposite. They did not miss the postseason through the efforts of others. They returned to Target Field for the season’s final weekend and dived headfirst into missing the playoffs, scoring one run in back-to-back games vs. the Royals, the high-class baseball outfit from Kansas City.

The final was 3-1 Friday, and that left the Twins’ elimination number at 1. They handled that with a 5-1 loss Saturday, taking care of any need to wait into the night to find out if Houston was going to win or lose in Arizona.

“We talked about hopefully trying to make another team win rather than going out with a loss,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

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Hope pretty much died with Friday’s loss, and Saturday’s made it official.

And now that it’s over, deep analysis is required to discover the reasons the Twins fell short of attaining the second wild card in baseball’s inflated playoffs.

OK, I got it: pitching and hitting.

The starting rotation was a shaky proposition from the last moments of spring training, when Ervin Santana was suspended for half the season because of a positive steroid test.

In the end, it was a such a mess that Molitor had to use the reeling Mike Pelfrey in the second game of a doubleheader at Cleveland on Wednesday.

Santana was strong in September, and so was rookie Tyler Duffey, but Phil Hughes was supposed to be the ace and never came close. Ricky Nolasco disappeared for four months because of an ankle injury, and Pelfrey returned to his easy-to-hit form, and Tommy Milone was game when healthy, but …

The “but” here is that the Twins screwed up when they took Trevor May out of the rotation on July 1 and put him in the bullpen. The odds would have been much better of maintaining the competence of the rotation with May taking his turn.

As for the bullpen, once All-Star Glen Perkins served up home runs to Alex Rodriguez and John Ryan Murphy in a Target Field meltdown on July 25 … well, mere survival hinged on the pickup of Kevin Jepsen a week later to take over as the closer.

As for the hitting, once All-Star Brian Dozier went careening downhill in the final 2½ months … well, mere survival hinged on rookie Miguel Sano being able to deliver thunder for a while.

Pitching. Hitting. Those were the Twins’ only issues. The fielding was good.

This was a year when mediocrity ruled the second level of the American League, and that had more to do with the Twins’ status as a contender than an indication this was a team waiting to explode into excellence.

The comparison has been made to the 2001 Twins, the team that ended the franchise’s eight-season losing streak with an 85-77 record. There was no second wild card at that time, or those Twins would have played the 102-win Oakland A’s in the one-game, wild-card shootout.

The 2001 Twins also would have had the choice of starting Brad Radke, Eric Milton or Joe Mays in such a game — options of which Molitor could only dream in the chaotic final weeks of his first season as manager.

Instead, Cleveland won the AL Central and eliminated with 2001 Twins with a 9-1 victory on its home field with a week left in the season.

Saturday, Doug Mientkiewicz, the Twins first baseman then and now their Class AA manager, was asked to recall his quote after watching Cleveland celebrate the division title.

“I said, ‘They better enjoy this, because it’s the last one they are going to win for a while,’ ” Mientkiewicz texted. “I was right.”

Yes, he was. Cleveland was in a team in decline and the Twins were on the rise.

The new kings of the AL Central are the Royals — World Series entries as a wild-card team last fall, runaway division winners this season.

The Royals are still in their prime. They have power arms, a deep lineup, speed to burn and wonderful fielding.

The Twins will finish with the seventh-best record among 15 AL teams. The candid opinion here is they are closer in talent to the three or four teams behind them than the five making up the AL’s playoff field.

For sure, watching the Royals now that they are cranking it up again for the postseason, it’s clear the Twins have a large gap to cover to be this division’s force.

There is hope for the future for these Twins, but far from the certainty that Dougie Ballgame was able to express late in 2001.

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Twins out of wild-card race with loss to Royals

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | October 4, 2015

The Twins hunkered down in their clubhouse after their season unofficially ended Saturday, keeping the doors closed for more than 20 minutes as they said in private what needed to be said to each other.

“There’s a lot of emotion out there. A lot of guys are taking it personal, in a good way,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said after the Twins were formally eliminated from the postseason chase by a 5-1 loss to the Royals. “We have to live with it. … The curtain came down, so to speak, but it was a pretty good show.”

He means over the course of 161 games, one short of the actual finish, and not Saturday specifically. That they lasted to the final weekend represents undeniable progress, but having it slip away on a hit that traveled all of 45 feet, in a game that featured another listless performance at the plate and several unnerving breakdowns in the field, burned just the same.

“Just a lot of guys are hurting. It’s tough,” Joe Mauer said after the Twins lost for the 78th time, too many to catch the Astros or Angels. “We had other things in mind, and just came up a little short.”

They actually loaded the bases in the ninth inning and had a sympathetic announced crowd of 30,181 on its feet, but couldn’t score. “To load the bases and have a chance there, it shows you what we’re all about,” Mauer said. “I’m proud of the way the guys went about their business, but it stinks.”

Tommy Milone pumped his fist into his glove in exuberance as he stalked off the field after six strong innings, but the AL Central champion Royals struck for four runs just as soon as he was gone, largely helped by Twins mistakes. A one-out triple by Alcides Escobar set up the ugly inning for the Twins, and he scored the go-ahead run on Lorenzo Cain’s spinning roller between home and first, a seemingly harmless dribbler that turned into an RBI hit when Blaine Boyer’s throw glanced off Cain as he crossed first base.

The Twins asked the umpires to rule that Cain wasn’t in the proper baseline, but the umps disagreed. “It’s too bad to lose a game on a swinging bunt up the line,” Molitor said. “That’s one of my least favorite rules in the book.”

After a walk to Eric Hosmer, Jonny Gomes clubbed a line drive to third that whistled out of the shadows and ricocheted off Plouffe’s glove into left field, scoring Cain. And when Eddie Rosario, who has made a thrilling habit of throwing out baserunners, wound up and over-muscled a throw to the plate that bounded into the Royals dugout, Hosmer was sent home, too. An RBI double by Mike Moustakas widened the lead to four, and ultimately whittled the Twins’ hopes of a miraculous wild-card comeback to zero.

Hey, they played 161 meaningful games this season, leaving only Sunday’s 2 p.m. denouement for handshakes, see-you-next-years and a chorus of “Auld Lang Syne.” Maybe they’ll dance to it.

Nobody was dancing Saturday, though. Instead, Molitor called the team together for an impromptu postgame meeting.

“I had some things to say and I wanted to make sure Torii [Hunter] had an opportunity, too,” Molitor said. “The emotion you invest into this thing, all of a sudden it comes crashing down. … I feel bad for them, because there’s a lot of rawness out there.”

Still, considering how indifferent the four previous Septembers were — the Twins were out by Sept. 14 every season, always with at least 16 blanks to fire in empty ballparks — the 2015 Twins were a success. Milone, who gave up six hits and one run, gave them hope he will become a reliable part of future rotations. Brian Dozier provided a tying RBI single off Royals starter Yordano Ventura and even stole a base. Aaron Hicks doubled and scored a run, and Hunter broke up Ventura’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning with a sharp single.

“The success is in progress,” Molitor said. “The body of work was good. They left it out there, and we’ll be better for it in the long run.”

Twins’ unlikely postseason run ends in 5-1 loss to Royals

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | October 4, 2015

Tears flowed freely in the Twins' clubhouse after Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

That's what happens when you believe in something so deeply and want it so much, only to fall short of your goal.

"I feel bad for them," Twins manager Paul Molitor said after his upstart team was eliminated from postseason contention. "There's a lot of rawness out there."

Widely picked to finish last in the American League Central before the season began, the 83-win Twins managed to end a four-year run of 92-

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plus losses for a proud franchise. They also managed to stay in the wild-card hunt until the season's penultimate day.

"We did everything we possibly could," 40-year-old right fielder Torii Hunter said.

"All the critics, all the analysts, all the sabermetrics (experts) -- everything you can name said the Twins were going to be in last place. You're wrong."

He shook his head and smiled.

"We did a great job," Hunter said. "I give it a B-plus. I'm proud of these guys. I think, all in all, we did win."

An unlikely postseason run finally came to an end in ironic fashion on a crisp fall afternoon, courtesy of an ugly meltdown in the seventh inning.

Tied at 1 after Brian Dozier's run-scoring single in the sixth, the Twins were a strike away from escaping a threat in the seventh. Ben Zobrist's fly ball to left was too shallow to score Alcides Escobar, who had tripled, but Lorenzo Cain followed with a squibber down the first-base line.

Twins reliever Blaine Boyer (3-6) hustled over to make the play, but his off-balance throw hit Cain in the small of the back, allowing the go-ahead run to score. The Twins argued for an interference call, saying Cain veered out of the running lane, but Larry Vanover's umpiring crew denied their claim after a quick huddle.

After left-hander Neal Cotts entered and issued a walk to Eric Hosmer, Jonny Gomes followed with a liner off Trevor Plouffe's glove at third. Cain scored, and Hosmer followed him home after Eddie Rosario's off-line throw found the third-base dugout.

Both Plouffe and Rosario were charged with errors, their 12th and seventh, respectively. Plouffe struggled to find Gomes' liner in the afternoon shadows.

A similar play involving shortstop Eduardo Escobar cost the Twins a 4-3 loss two Saturdays ago against the Los Angeles Angels. With a five-run comeback in the ninth at Texas, the Angels moved two games ahead of the Twins while still chasing the Houston Astros for the final postseason spot.

Mike Moustakas capped the nightmare seventh with a run-scoring double to right.

"I think we learned a lot," Molitor said. "There was a lot of growth. We saw the development in a lot of people in terms of character as well as performance. I just let the men know that they left it out there. We'll be better in the long run for it."

Cain and Hosmer ripped consecutive two-out doubles in the first off left-hander Tommy Milone for the Royals' first run. Milone went the first six innings, allowing just four more hits while striking out five.

"Tommy did a wonderful job," Molitor said.

Falling to 7-11 in the season series with the Royals, the Twins have scored a total of five runs in dropping their past five home games against the American League West champions. That includes a three-game sweep in early June that ended with ejections for Molitor and Hunter.

Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura (13-8) held the Twins without a hit until Hunter's two-out single in the fifth. Ventura stranded two with a borderline strikeout of Plouffe in the sixth, but otherwise was largely untested in an 11-strikeout performance.

Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki also was charged with an error in the second when he bumped into Milone as they pursued a popup by Salvador Perez.

Saturday marked just the fourth time all season the Twins had allowed three unearned runs. One of the other times was June 10, the aforementioned 7-2 loss to the Royals that completed a series sweep.

The Twins loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but closer Wade Davis came on to record strikeouts of pinch hitter Kennys Vargas and Eduardo Escobar.

"I think you'd have to say that overall the curtain came down, so to speak, but it was a pretty good show," Molitor said. "Some of the acts were a little sketchy at times, and then we tried to move on to the next scene. The body of work was good."

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Minnesota Twins: Torii Hunter’s son rushing to town for finale

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | October 3, 2015

Notre Dame wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. had a football game to play Saturday night in Clemson, S.C., but he was due at Target Field on Sunday.

That was just another indication of the potential significance of this regular-season finale for the family patriarch.

"We're going to sit down as a family and try to talk about it and see what comes up," the elder Torii Hunter said Saturday after the Twins were eliminated from postseason contention. "I don't know if I'll make an announcement tomorrow. I don't know if I'll make one in January. We'll just have to see."

Keep in mind that on the night Hunter's last team, the Detroit Tigers, were eliminated in the American League Division Series last October, a report circulated that he would likely retire. The end of a marathon season is the worst time to consider such questions.

Hunter, 40, said before Sunday's game that he would likely wait until late November, after college football season, before making a final decision on whether to return in 2016. In addition to Torii Jr., his son Monshadrik "Money" Hunter a defensive back at Arkansas State and Darius is a wide receiver at Riverside (Calif.) Community College.

"There's a possibility (Sunday) could be my last game, my last time here in uniform," Hunter said. "There is a chance I could just come back in December, January and feel different when I'm training and working out, but this possibly could be my last game. There's a really good chance.”

Twins manager Paul Molitor said recently he believes Hunter would like to return for a 20th season in the majors. With 2,372 career games, Hunter ranks third among active players and is tied for 91st all-time with turn-of-the-century infielder George Davis.

Hunter has 22 home runs and 81 runs batted in this season, well in line with his career averages in those counting-stat areas. His on-base percentage has dipped to .293, 41 points below his career norm, and his slugging percentage of .409 is 52 points lower.

Then again, it was Hunter that drilled the Twins' first hit off Kansas City flamethrower Yordano Ventura. That came with two outs in the fifth inning.

When he came up in the ninth inning, drawing a four-pitch walk, Hunter was touched to hear the crowd of 30,181 chanting his name.

"That was awesome," he said. "Who more than the team I grew up with, the fans I grew up with? They've known me since I was 21 years old. I don't know if that's it. I can't say that. I can't do the farewell tour and all that stuff. I definitely think there's a chance for me to come back but right now I don't know."

Will he make a point of looking around on what could be his final day in a big-league uniform?

"Man, I've been looking around for the last two months," he said. "You have to fight that. That's the mental part of the game. That's something I was fighting for awhile. You've got to be a professional and take care of business, but (Sunday) will be very sentimental."

YOST LAUDS TWINS

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost played parts of four seasons (1980-83) in Milwaukee with Twins manager Paul Molitor.

So after his American League Central champions eliminated Molitor's first Twins team from postseason consideration Saturday, Yost was asked about their prospects for the future.

"They've made huge strides," Yost said. "For them to go to the second-to-last day still in contention is a great sign. That's something they can really build off for next year with a core group of young players -- really good players. They're going to be tough."

The Twins are 7-11 in the season series with the Royals, including five straight losses at home, but they also have gone 5-3 in their past eight games at Kauffman Stadium.

Is a near-miss like this necessary for a team to mature into a perennial postseason entrant? Yost, whose 2013 Royals improved from 72 to 86 and fell six wins shy of a wild-card spot, believes it is.

"You have to get to .500 before you can compete," said Yost, whose Royals are aiming for a second straight American League pennant. "Playing meaningful games until the second-to-last game of the season, that's a big stepping stone going forward."

BRIEFLY

Instead of bringing back Kyle Gibson on short rest to start Sunday's season finale, the Twins will give Ricky Nolasco his first start since May 31. He should have about 50 pitches at his disposal, Molitor said, after tossing two innings on 34 pitches on Wednesday in Cleveland. "We'll see how it goes," Molitor said. Nolasco was coming off July 13 right ankle surgery when he made a relief appearance this week. ... Twins first baseman Kennys Vargas expects to play again for Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican Winter League, but he won't join the team until around Dec. 1

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after playing the bulk of the year after 2014. ... Twins reliever Blaine Boyer, one of five potential free agents this winter, would like to return after making 68 outings with a 2.49 earned run average. "I haven't heard anything," said Boyer, who made $850,000 this season. "My family and I loved it here in Minnesota. We had an absolute blast. Of course we're certainly open to coming back here."

Twinsights: Neal Cotts open to a return with the Twins

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | October 3, 2015

Neal Cotts will turn 36 next March, but the veteran left-hander definitely plans to pitch again in 2016.

“Oh, yeah,” he said Saturday. “Of course. I feel great. The last three years have been good and injury free, for the most part. I’m going to keep it going as long as I can, pretty much.”

One of five prospective free agents on the Twins, Cotts made $3 million this season on a one-year deal. Also eligible for free agency after the World Series are right fielder Torii Hunter, right-hander Mike Pelfrey and fellow relievers Brian Duensing and Blaine Boyer.

In 16 games since the Twins acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers in an Aug. 21 waiver deal, Cotts has pitched to a 3.95 earned run average and stranded nine of 11 inherited baserunners. Overall this year, Cotts has worked to a 3.41 ERA in 67 games, allowing 27 percent of his inherited runners to score.

He has nine-inning rates of 8.2 strikeouts and 3.0 walks, which should bring solid interest this offseason.

Should the Twins seek to retain him, Cotts would definitely listen.

“I would love it,” he said. “It’s a great situation. It’s definitely a destination I would like to (consider).”

Going through a postseason push with the Twins, his fifth different team in a career that included a World Series title with the 2005 Chicago White Sox, has helped Cotts see the potential at Target Field.

“It’s been pretty impressive the last month,” he said. “It’s a great mix of older and younger. You see big things out of the young guys. It’s been a tight last month, but everybody’s doing their job, pulling their weight. It was enjoyable to be a part of this and to be brought into this and playing some meaningful games.”

Cotts was in his second full season with the White Sox when they won it all, ending an 88-year title drought.

“It was a little different mix, probably a little older than this team,” he said. “They had a lot of guys that came up through their organization with the White Sox. Then they made a couple acquisitions that offseason that you could say solidified the team, and my second full year we went all the way.”

Postgame Twinsights: Twins have impressed Royals manager Ned Yost

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | October 3, 2015

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost played parts of four seasons (1980-83) in Milwaukee with Twins manager Paul Molitor.

So after his American League Central champions eliminated Molitor’s first Twins team from postseason consideration Saturday, Yost was asked about their prospects for the future.

“They’ve made huge strides,” Yost said. “For them to go to the second-to-last day still in contention is a great sign. That’s something they can really build off for next year with a core group of young players — really good players. They’re going to be tough.”

The Twins are 7-11 in the season series with the Royals, including five straight losses at home, but they also have gone 5-3 in their past eight games at Kauffman Stadium.

Is a near-miss like this necessary for a team to mature into a perennial postseason entrant? Yost, whose 2013 Royals improved from 72 to 86 and fell six wins shy of a wild-card spot, believes it is.

“You have to get to .500 before you can compete,” said Yost, whose Royals are aiming for a second straight American League pennant. “Playing meaningful games until the second-to-last game of the season, that’s a big stepping stone going forward.”

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Briefly

–Instead of bringing back Kyle Gibson on short rest to start Sunday’s season finale, the Twins will give Ricky Nolasco his first start since May 31. He should have about 50 pitches at his disposal, Twins manager Paul Molitor said, after tossing two innings on 34 pitches on Wednesday in Cleveland. “We’ll see how it goes,” Molitor said. Nolasco was coming off July 13 right ankle surgery when he made a relief appearance this week.

–Twins first baseman Kennys Vargas expects to play again for Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican Winter League, but he won’t join the team until around Dec. 1 after playing the bulk of the year after 2014.

–Twins reliever Blaine Boyer, one of five potential free agents this winter, would like to return after making 68 outings with a 2.49 earned run average. “I haven’t heard anything,” said Boyer, who made $850,000 this season. “My family and I loved it here in Minnesota. We had an absolute blast. Of course we’re certainly open to coming back here.”

Charley Walters: Jim Pohlad’s ‘stupid proud’ of his Twins

Charley Walters | Pioneer Press | October 3, 2015

After at least 92 losses in each of the previous four seasons, the Minnesota Twins went into the final two games of this season with a chance, albeit slim, of getting into the playoffs before losing to Kansas City 5-1 on Saturday at Target Field.

"We're stupid proud of them," owner Jim Pohlad said. "They're so incredibly resilient. They don't give up -- they hang in there. This is what we hoped for, was our objective, to play meaningful games and get into the playoffs."

As for business, Pohlad said the Twins, who have averaged nearly 27,500 spectators at Target Field, have exceeded their budget of 2 million for this season.

"We beat it, we're happy," he said. "We credit that to the team's play and also our sales organization. The weather has been basically great the whole year except for one rainout. The fans have been great. We're very excited and very grateful."

Paul Molitor, the Twins' first-year manager?

"He has done a great job," Pohlad said. "It's totally a team effort, and he's a major part of the team."

This season has been especially gratifying for Pohlad after the last four embarrassing seasons.

"That goes without saying," he said.

The Twins' lineup on Opening Day next April 4 against the Orioles in Baltimore could be just about the same as the Twins are closing with this season. The big question is whether outfielder Torii Hunter, who turns 41 next season, will return.

That could depend on whether the Twins determine fellow outfielder Byron Buxton, 21, is ready to play regularly. Buxton batted .216 in 44 games with just 27 hits, including two homers and six runs batted in, and could start next season at Class AAA Rochester.

Hunter said if he doesn't come back with the Twins, he "pretty much" won't play anywhere else.

"I'm not saying that's 100 percent, but (his mind) is 80 percent made up that I want to be with the Twins," Hunter said the other day.

Hunter, whose salary is $10.5 million this season and could warrant the same deal for next season, has 22 home runs with 81 RBIs while batting .241 in 138 games.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus admits his club this season missed Hunter, who after last year left for the Twins via free agency.

Hunter will want to know the Twins' plans for him for 2016 if he is to return to the field.

"Before I commit to anything," he said. "It depends on the situation, to be honest with you, whether I come back and DH or how many games I'm going to play or where I'm going to play."

Hunter said "there's no hurry" for him or the Twins to decide on his future in Minnesota.

If he doesn't play, he said he "definitely" would like to be part of the Twins organization in some capacity.

"Somewhere," he said. "This is my home. This is why I came back (to Minnesota). I turned down a lot of teams to come back here. So I'm committed."

Hunter has had a nice resurgence after struggling for a period after the all-star break.

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"I had a rough stretch there -- it was more mental than anything," he said. "I kind of second-guessed myself in August. I was a little tired. But then I found something. It clicked."

Despite his age, Hunter regularly is the first player on the field before batting practice, running sprints and stretching in the outfield.

Now, he said, "I feel strong, I feel good. And more than anything, I think I'm refreshed mentally. We have things that go on in our lives that people don't know about, and it's more mental than anything."

It will be interesting whether the Twins trade Trevor Plouffe, 29, who hit 22 homers and batted .244 in 151 games, so they can move Miguel Sano, 22, who hit 18 homers in 78 games and batted .267, to third base. The Twins could use a high-end catcher who can throw out base runners in exchange for Plouffe.

Plouffe, paid $4.8 million this season, is salary arbitration eligible for next season and could cost a lot to re-sign. Sano is playing for the major league minimum $507,500 and isn't eligible for arbitration for three more years.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan, asked how his club might have fared this season had starter Ervin Santana (7-5, 4.00 earned-run average) not been suspended for steroids for 80 games: "Who knows? We wouldn't be in this position if we didn't have (all-star closer) Glen Perkins. It's the same thing -- who knows what might have happened."

Nolasco tabbed for season finale against Royals

Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | October 3, 2015

The most important thing riding on Sunday's regular-season finale is home-field advantage for the Royals throughout the American League postseason. Toronto holds the tiebreaker based on a 4-3 edge in the season series, but Kansas City took a one-game lead in the chase with a 5-1 victory over Minnesota on Saturday and the Blue Jays' 4-3 loss to the Rays.

Kansas City can clinch the top seed with a win in the finale or another Toronto loss at Tropicana Field on Sunday.

Royals ace Johnny Cueto will start the regular-season finale at Target Field. After a shaky end of August and beginning to September, Cueto (10-13, 3.48 ERA) has logged three straight quality starts.

Once eliminated, the Twins tabbed Ricky Nolasco, who is making his first start since May 31. The righty had ankle surgery in July, but he came back and pitched two innings in relief in Minnesota's loss to Cleveland on Sept. 30. Nolasco gave up three runs on two hits in that game.

Things to know about this game

• Since Nolasco hasn't started since late May, manager Paul Molitor indicated that the veteran righty would be held to around 50 pitches, depending on how the start goes. That could open the door for Phil Hughes to pitch in relief if necessary.

• The Royals will be looking for their 95th victory, a mark they haven't touched since a 97-win season in 1980. Regardless of the result on Sunday, the number of wins in the 2015 regular season is the third-most in franchise history.

• The Twins might mix up their lineup in the finale to give some younger players an opportunity. Top prospect Byron Buxton could get a start, as could rookie outfielder Max Kepler.

Torii undecided on his return for 2016 season

Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- When the Twins gave Torii Hunter a one-year contract last offseason, it seemed like the right fielder might have been coming back for one final curtain call.

But a productive 2015 season individually has given Hunter something to think about. Hunter was noncommittal about his future before Saturday's game against the Royals, but he didn't close the door on a return.

Hunter had played in 138 games entering Saturday, and his 22 home runs are the most in a season for him since 2011, while his 81 RBIs are near his totals from the past couple of seasons.

"I had a lot of days off. And to put up those numbers, not bad for a 40-year-old, right?" Hunter said. "Did the same thing when I was 35, did the same thing when I was 33."

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If Hunter comes back, the Twins are looking at a potential logjam in the outfield with Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton and Aaron Hicks expected to occupy a fair share of the playing time. But Hunter did make one thing clear -- if he comes back, it's to play, not just to provide a clubhouse presence.

"Eighty one games? I'm not coming back for that," Hunter said. "Why?"

Hunter's offseason plans include crisscrossing the country to watch two of his sons play college football. Decisions about his future plans figure to come near the end of the college football season or after it once he talks it over with his wife, who Hunter said is ready for him to come home.

Hunter, a 19-year veteran, is a five-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove Award winner with more than 2,400 hits and 350 home runs. In his career, Hunter's list of accomplishments is long. But he's still after the World Series title that has eluded him and with a Twins team seemingly on the rise, that might hold some sway in the decision.

If the Twins had been a last-place team, Hunter said he probably would have announced his retirement two months ago. Now, it's up in the air.

"They have such a great chance of winning next year, being better than they did this year so do I want to win a World Series? Yes," Hunter said. "I know these guys can win. Do I want to come back? Maybe. There's a chance."

Despite end of postseason hopes, Twins surpass expectations

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The surprising Twins' postseason hopes came to an end on Saturday in the penultimate game of the season, as their 5-1 loss to the Royals ended their late push for the second American League Wild Card spot.

The Twins fell 2 1/2 games back of the Astros -- pending Houston's game against Arizona on Saturday evening -- with one game left in the regular season, closing out their hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2010. But it was still an impressive turnaround for a franchise that had lost at least 92 games in each of the last four years.

"You celebrate the fact that we've been able to get our team back into a competitive situation and have meaningful games the last weekend, but we came up short," said an emotional Twins manager Paul Molitor. "When you get as close as we did, you like to think you could've found a way to get over the hump, but you learn."

The Twins (83-78) were almost universally picked to finish last in the AL Central before the season. But they finished second in the division and posted a winning record for the first time since 2010.

"The coaches changed this clubhouse and a winning attitude came back," veteran right fielder Torii Hunter said. "These guys gave it their all and tried to prove the critics wrong. And we pretty much did that. The loss today beat us down because we wanted to play in the postseason. But these guys are resilient and fighters, and they learned a lot."

The future looks bright for Minnesota, which saw Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Tyler Duffey and Trevor May, among others, make a major impact. Aaron Hicks, Eduardo Escobar and Kyle Gibson also took steps forward in their development, while stalwarts Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe got their first taste of meaningful baseball late in the season.

"A lot of guys learned a lot this year," veteran Joe Mauer said. "It was good to see the progression from Spring Training to now. I hope the guys take the sting of the loss and take it into the offseason."

The Twins showed resiliency throughout the season, bouncing back from a 1-6 start and several bumps in the road to remain in the playoff race until the second-to-last day of the season in Molitor's first year at the helm. Hunter was the club's veteran leader, and while the 40-year-old's future remains uncertain, he left an indelible mark on the clubhouse, keeping his teammates loose with their dance parties after every home win.

"The [team's] personality was tremendous and it was reflected primarily by Mr. Hunter," Molitor said. "We have a lot of interesting characters, and it's fun to see them display who they are. A lot of it was under his umbrella. He encouraged all of them so show a little flavor, and when you put them all together it's a good mix."

The season ended with back-to-back losses to the Royals at home, leaving the Twins disappointed. But given their preseason expectations -- and the young core poised to keep the club relevant for years to come -- it's hard to call the 2015 season anything but a success.

"You always want to win and go to the World Series, and some people might call that unsuccessful. But for us, everybody -- whether it was the critics, analysts or Sabermetrics -- said the Twins were gonna be in last place, and they were wrong," Hunter said. "We did a great job. I'll give it a B-plus. We can always do better, but we had a winning season and I'm proud of these guys."

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Four-run 7th eliminates Twins from Wild Card race

Jeffrey Flanagan and Betsy Helfand | MLB.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Friday night's loss put the Twins down. Saturday's? Out. The Twins were officially eliminated from postseason contention with a 5-1 loss to the Royals at Target Field. A Lorenzo Cain roller up the first-base line plated the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and prolonged an ugly frame that effectively ended Minnesota's season.

"A curtain came down so to speak, but it was a pretty good show. Some of the acts were a little sketchy at times and we tried to move onto the next scene, but the body of work was good," Twins manager Paul Molitor said of the season. "They left it out there and we'll be better in the long run for it."

The Royals' win, coupled with the Blue Jays' loss to the Rays on Saturday night, put them in the driver's seat for home-field advantage through the ALCS. With a win on Sunday, they will earn that advantage. Only a loss on Sunday, coupled with a Jays win, would give Toronto the home-field advantage by virtue of winning the season series between the two teams, four games to three.

"We've got to go out and play to win tomorrow," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It doesn't matter what Toronto does, we have to win."

Royals starter Yordano Ventura did not allow a hit until the fifth inning. He gave up back-to-back hits in the sixth inning to tie the score at 1, but was otherwise unflappable. The right-hander matched a career high with 11 strikeouts and gave up just four hits in seven innings.

Twins starter Tommy Milone logged six innings, giving up one run on six hits. Relievers Blaine Boyer and Neal Cotts both gave up two runs -- just one earned -- in the Royals' four-run seventh.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED LoCain is back: Cain played for the first time since Wednesday when he took a foul ball off his right knee. Cain hardly skipped a beat. He doubled and scored in the first. He was intentionally walked in the third inning. He doubled in the fifth. And he reached on the infield single that plated the go-ahead run in the seventh.

"Lorenzo did a great job of running right on the baseline," Yost said. "The umpires got the call right."

Boyer's throw extends inning: Had Boyer been able to get Cain at first in the seventh, the Twins may have escaped with no damage in a tie game. Instead, Boyer's throw hit Cain on the back and allowed Alcides Escobar to score from third. Molitor tried to argue that Cain was outside the line, but the umpires conferred and ruled Cain safe.

"I wasn't sure exactly where Cain was at," Molitor said. "I just asked [home-plate umpire Larry Vanover] what his view was as far as if [Cain] was on the line or the foul side. He said he thought he was good. I asked him to check, they checked, they had a little conversation. They all agreed that he was OK."

Escobar, the table-setter: Much has been made by the numbers crowd about why Escobar should be in the leadoff spot. But the Royals improved to 43 games over .500 with him there since last season (including the postseason). Escobar had only one hit Saturday, but it was huge -- a triple to launch the four-run seventh inning.

"It's a mystery why we win with him up there," Yost said. "But we do. He just makes something happen. When was the last time he had a triple? But then bam, he gets a triple to start the rally."

Two-error play costly: Giving the Royals an extra out proved costly for the Twins. Down 2-1 with two on and two out, Jonny Gomes hit a liner that ticked off of third baseman Trevor Plouffe's glove into left field. The play, which was ruled an error on Plouffe, got even worse for Minnesota when left fielder Eddie Rosario airmailed a throw and two runs scored.

QUOTABLE "You always want to win. You always want to go into the postseason. You want to get a chance to go to that World Series. And some people might call it not successful, but for us, everybody that [said] -- all the critics, all the analysts, all the the sabermetrics, everything you can name said the Twins were going to be in last place. You're wrong. We did a great job. Give it a B-plus. We can always do better. We did. We had a winning season." -- Twins right fielder Torii Hunter

WHAT'S NEXT Royals: Ace Johnny Cueto (10-13, 3.48 ERA) will get the ball on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. CT for the regular-season finale at Target Field. The right-hander is coming off three straight quality starts, but he picked up his seventh loss with Kansas City last time out.

Twins: Right-hander Ricky Nolasco will make his first start since May 31 in Sunday's season finale at 2:10 p.m. CT. Nolasco, who had ankle surgery in July, has pitched just once since the injury. He tossed two innings on Sept. 30, giving up three runs on two hits. He is expected to throw around 50 pitches.

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Torii Hunter undecided, says there’s ‘really good chance’ he’ll retire

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Torii Hunter said he's gazed around at his surroundings during each of the past two months, soaking in the sights and sounds of being a big-league ballplayer. He's been guarded against the mentality that this could be it for him as a Major Leaguer, but at age 40, it's a real possibility.

Hunter was asked after Saturday's game, when the Twins mathematically were eliminated from postseason contention, if he's given any thought to his next game possibly being his final in a Twins uniform.

"There's a possibility it could be my last game, my last time here in uniform, but there is a chance I could come back in December, January and feel different when I'm training and working out," Hunter said. "But this possibly could be my last game. And there's a really good chance."

After listening to Hunter talk before and after Saturday's game, he makes it sound like he's leaning toward retirement. But he's intentionally left open the possibility that he'll be back, noting that he might feel differently this winter than he does at the end of a seven-month grind.

Hunter entered the final weekend of the season hitting .239/.291/.409, with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs. By offensive metrics like weight on-base average and adjusted weighted runs created, Hunter was a below-average right fielder at the plate this season. That ignores the fact that in his first season back with the team that drafted him, he quickly became the unquestioned leader of the clubhouse and contributed the kind of intangibles that can't be quantified.

Hunter called his season a success, considering his numbers such as RBIs and home runs coupled with the fact that his team improbably was in contention in the final weekend of the regular season -- a team that most picked to bow out of the race for the postseason much earlier.

"I always think about sometimes you want to go out on top," Hunter said. "With a successful season, something like this, [I] still put up numbers at forty years old. Do you leave on top? Or do you come back and wait 'til you fall and hit rock bottom? That's a decision I have to make this offseason."

Hunter said his son, Torii Jr., will fly into the Twin Cities and they'll have a family discussion about the elder Hunter's future in baseball. He's sure to be a hot commodity in a broadcast booth or some other role, if indeed he decides his playing days are over.

That's a question for another day. For now, Hunter says simply that he doesn't know. Sunday could be a sentimental day for him.

Minutes before the Twins were eliminated from postseason contention, Hunter received the adoring chants -- even if they were faint -- that have become common at Target Field this season: "Tor-ii! Tor-ii!"

"I say it's a success," Hunter said of his season in Minnesota. "Even at the beginning, people said 'Oh, he's not worth it.' I know what I can bring, I know what I can do. Every year you're going to see the same numbers. Yeah, the average is going to go up and down but the numbers are going to be there."

"As far as the clubhouse and trying to sell the fact that we can win, that's what I do. I love that challenge. And this year was a challenge and we got it done. I did what I had to do," he said. "I'm satisfied."

With postseason play out of reach, Nolasco to start Sunday for Twins

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- Ricky Nolasco will take the mound for the Twins in Sunday's season finale, as the team was eliminated Saturday from postseason contention.

If the game had postseason implications, Kyle Gibson likely would have started on short rest. Instead, Nolasco will get another chance to climb the hill and prove to everyone he's healthy after right ankle surgery in July. He'll likely be limited to somewhere around 50 pitches at a maximum.

Nolasco missed 103 games, but returned in the final week of September and pitched out of the bullpen.

He said there's not any added significance to starting the game, and reiterated that his primary goal is to go into the offseason healthy.

"It doesn't really matter. I understood the situation that was going on," Nolasco said of being asked to pitch out of the bullpen. "I just wanted to be healthy and have that peace of mind to go into the offseason. I'll get another chance to do that and hopefully it goes well."

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"Just go out there and try and throw a few innings and go home healthy," he said.

The injury contributed to Nolasco's second consecutive disappointing season with the Twins, after he signed a four-year, $49 million contract two winters ago.

In his two years in Minnesota, Nolasco is 11-13 with a 5.48 ERA in 34 starts and one relief outing. He has 148 strikeouts and 49 walks in 193 2/3 innings pitched with the Twins.

Nolasco was blunt about his 2015 self-assessment.

"Terrible again," he said. "There's nothing I can do now."

No postseason for Twins: 5-1 loss to Royals eliminates Minnesota

Associated Press | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins' surprising run for a playoff spot came down to the final innings on the next to last day of season.

Minnesota was eliminated from the AL wild-card race Saturday, getting stifled by Yordano Ventura for seven innings in a 5-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Blaine Boyer (3-6) allowed two runs, one earned, while getting two outs for the Twins (83-78), who weren't expected to contend this season with a young squad led by rookie manager Paul Molitor. But Minnesota began play Saturday two games back of Houston for the second wild-card spot.

"I think you'd have to say that overall, the curtain came down so to speak, but it was a pretty good show," Molitor said. "Some of the acts were a little sketchy at times and we tried to move on to the next scene. But the body of work was good."

The Twins tried to keep their performance going but committed two errors in a costly four-run seventh inning. Minnesota loaded the bases in the ninth before Wade Davis struck out Kennys Vargas and Eduardo Escobar for his 17th save in 18 chances.

"All the critics, all the analysts, all the sabermetrics, everything you can name said the Twins were going to be in last place," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "You're wrong. We did a great job. I give it a B-plus."

Ventura (13-8) carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and struck out 11 to win his third straight decision for the Royals (94-67), who momentarily pulled ahead of Toronto (93-67) for home-field advantage through the postseason. The Blue Jays play at Tampa Bay later Saturday.

"Tomorrow's going to be a meaningful game," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "We have to do everything we can to try to win tomorrow."

Ventura, who could be in line to start Game 1 of the division series, lost just once in his final 14 starts of the regular season. He was 9-1 with a 3.03 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 89 innings since a loss on July 20.

"We've got him right where we want him, right where he needs to be going into next week," Yost said. "And I feel like we as a team are right where need to be going into next week too.

TOMORROW FOR TORII

Hunter acknowledged he could be playing his final game on Sunday. The 19-year veteran who started his career with Minnesota in 1997, snapped Ventura's no-hitter in the fifth and was cheered loudly by the hometown fans in his final at-bats.

Hunter isn't sure what his future holds. He will be a free agent at the end of the season. Hunter has hit .277 with 353 home runs and 1,391 RBI in his career.

"I don't know if it's it," Hunter said. "I can't say that. I can't do the farewell tour and all that stuff. I definitely think that there's a chance for me to come back. Right now, I don't know. I don't know if I'll make an announcement tomorrow, I don't know if I'll make one in January. So, we'll just have to see. I don't know."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: Kendrys Morales was available as a pinch hitter but was held out again after he left Thursday's game with tightness in his left quadriceps.

UP NEXT

Royals: Johnny Cueto (9-13, 4.95) will make the final start of the regular season for Kansas City. Cueto has allowed eight earned runs in his last 20 innings over his last three starts after giving up 28 earned runs in 26 1/3 innings between Aug. 21 and Sept. 13.

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Twins: After Minnesota was eliminated, Molitor said RHP Ricky Nolasco (5-1, 5.97) will start Sunday. Kyle Gibson was slated to start if the Twins were still in contention. Nolasco will be making his first start after returning from almost four months on the disabled list. He allowed three runs in two innings of relief on Sept. 30.

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Twins knocked out of postseason contention

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | October 3, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS - The Twins got to the ballpark Saturday with a sliver of hope remaining that they'd make it to the postseason. That dream died Saturday, with a 5-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, which mathematically eliminated the Twins from the A.L. wild card hunt.

This column presents 5 thoughts from Saturday's game.

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1. The Royals scored four runs in the 7th inning, which put the Twins in a bad spot in a game they had to win to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The Twins used three relievers - Blaine Boyer, Neal Cotts and Trevor May - in the inning in relief of starter Tommy Milone. They entered the inning tied at 1-1 and by the time it was over they were down 5-1 and looking at a difficult comeback.

Alcides Escobar hit a one-out triple off Blaine Boyer and scored on Lorenzo Cain's two-out single. Neal Cotts entered the game and walked Eric Hosmer, after which things got away from the Twins.

Jonny Gomes smoked a ball toward Trevor Plouffe at third base. Plouffe got his glove on it but couldn't catch it, as it deflected off his leather and rolled into no-man's land between the left fielder and shortstop. Cain and Hosmer both scored on the play, and Gomes got all the way around to third base after a throwing error by Eddie Rosario. Mike Moustakas doubled home a run and just like that the Royals had taken a 5-1 lead.

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2. With the loss, the Twins are mathematically eliminated from the postseason. They entered the game knowing things really needed to break their way over the final two days of the season just to force a Game 163.

Molitor, ordinarily steely and calm after games, showed a bit of emotion during his postgame interview. He's always good at analyzing a game immediately after it happens, but on Saturday he added a dimension to that and did well to summarize the season.

"There's a lot of emotion out there. I think a lot of guys are taking this a little bit personal in a good way," Molitor said. "I think we learned a lot. There was a lot of growth.

"I think you'd have to say that overall -- the curtain came down, so to speak, but it was a pretty good show. Some of the acts were a little sketchy at times and we tried to move onto the next scene, but the body of work was good," Molitor said.

Molitor added that he felt bad in the moment for his players because of the raw emotion after the game. Players had a lengthy session after the game clearing the air after the loss -- longer than any dance party I can remember.

"You kind of have a flooding of both emotion and games," Molitor said. "It's a little corny but they played that little [encapsulated] version of the season and I found that even a little bit emotional because it brings back a lot of the chapters that you had to go through to bring it down to the last weekend.

"In the short term, yes, it's a little tough but we'll have a lot of time to let it sink in throughout the winter."

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3. Yordano Ventura struck out the side in the 1st inning and he didn't allow a hit until the 5th inning.

Torii Hunter singled with two outs to break up the no-hit bid, but in general the Twins couldn't get much going against Ventura on Saturday.

Ventura had his velocity, he had a good slider, according to Torii Hunter, and by midway through the game all hitters had to contend with midday shadows at Target Field.

Ventura finished with 7 innings and one earned run on four hits and three walks. Of his 21 outs recorded Saturday, he struck out 11 hitters.

"Struck out [Aaron] Hicks in the 1st at 98 [mph]. He threw one 99 there in the 7th. Breaking ball was disappearing. Changeup kept the lefties honest," Molitor said. "It's just things that he can do with the baseball that make it challenging. We haven't had our best offensive stretch here

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as of late but you still have to acknowledge when a guy's dealing."

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4. The Twins dropped an infield popup in the 2nd inning, and committed three total errors on the afternoon.

With one out, Tommy Milone got a ski-high popup off the bat of Salvador Perez. Milone and catcher Kurt Suzuki both converged on it. Typically a pitcher will only catch the popup if no other infielder is in the area, but in this case Milone looked as if he called for it.

Suzuki and Milone collided and the ball fell to the ground to allow Perez to reach base. He never scored -- he was erased on a double play to end the inning -- but it was a clumsy start in the field for a team that desperately needed the win.

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5. The Royals jumped on the board first with a pair of two-out doubles off Milone in the 1st inning.

While Minnesota certainly had incentive to win the game, Kansas City was playing for something, too. A win and a Toronto loss would give the Royals the best record in the Majors, which could be important if the teams meet in the postseason. If the Royals finish with the better record it would mean Kansas City has home-field advantage through the American League Championship Series. The Royals won and the Blue Jays lost Saturday, so going into the final day of the season, the Royals are in the driver's seat.

And thanks to the A.L. all-star team winning the Midsummer Classic, the Royals also would have home-field advantage during the World Series.

Milone got the first two Royals hitters out and then Lorenzo Cain ripped a double to left field. Eric Hosmer followed that up by driving the next pitch into center for an RBI double to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.

Twins eliminated from postseason contention with loss to Royals

Bill Baer | NBC Sports | October 3, 2015

The Twins were mathematically eliminated from post-season contention on Saturday, losing 5-1 to the Royals. The game was tied 1-1 after six innings, but the Royals rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh after starter Tommy Milone exited the game.

Reliever Blaine Boyer started the frame, but allowed a one-out triple to Alcides Escobar, followed by a two-out, run-scoring infield single by Lorenzo Cain before departing. Neal Cotts replaced Boyer, but he walked Eric Hosmer, then saw Jonny Gomes reach base and bring in a run on Trevor Plouffe‘s fielding error which also included a run-scoring throwing error by left fielder Eddie Rosario. Mike Moustakas plated a run with a double to make it 5-1. Trevor May relieved Cotts and struck out Salvador Perez to end the inning mercifully.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura struck out 11 over seven innings, limiting the Twins to one run on four hits and three walks. Danny Duffy worked a scoreless eighth. Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis combined to blank the Twins in the ninth to slam the door.

The Twins won 70 games or fewer in each of the previous four seasons, so their 83-78 record is a significant improvement.