The Twins optioned Brian Buscher to Class AAA Rochester today, clearing space for newly acquired Orlando Cabrera on the 25-man roster.

Buscher batted .227 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 53 games for the Twins this season.

Update: Cabrera will make his Twins debut tonight, playing shortstop and batting second. Nick Punto is playing second base, with Alexi Casilla available off the bench.

Michael Cuddyer is not in the lineup after leaving Friday night’s game in the 11th inning with a strained lower back. Delmon Young gets his first start in about a week.

Update: Cuddyer will likely miss the rest of this series, Manager Ron Gardenhire said. There’s an off day Monday, so the hope is that Cuddyer will be ready to play on Tuesday in Cleveland.

(*) Gardenhire said he intends to use both Punto and Casilla at second base, so it’ll be on a case-by-case basis.

(*) Matt Guerrier told pitching coach Rick Anderson he could take the ball again tonight if needed, but he threw two inning last night, so Gardenhire is leery.

(*) First-base coach Jerry White had Carlos Gomez out working on hitting the cutoff man before the game. Gardenhire said he might just bench Gomez, mid-game, the next time he misses with one of those crazy throws like Friday night’s. 

ANGELS (61-40)

1. Chone Figgins, 3B
2. Maicer Izturis, 2B
3. Bobby Abreu, RF
4. Juan Rivera, DH
5. Kendry Morales, 1B
6. Mike Napoli, C
7. Erick Aybar, SS
8. Gary Matthews Jr., CF
9. Sean Rodriguez, LF

Starting pitcher: LH Joe Saunders (8-6, 5.02 ERA)

TWINS (52-51)

1. Denard Span, LF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Joe Crede, 3B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Mike Redmond, C
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Nick Punto, 2B

Starting pitcher: RH Anthony Swarzak (3-3, 3.74)

Metrodome. First pitch: 6:10 p.m. TV: FSN

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Twins thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.