After suspension upheld, Miguel Sano says, 'I was defending myself'

CHICAGO – Miguel Sano worked out before Tuesday's game against the White Sox but left the clubhouse before the first pitch was thrown.

Sano became a spectator because he had to serve the one-game suspension Major League Baseball handed him for his involvement in an incident during a game against the Tigers on April 22.

"It wasn't a surprise to me," said Sano, who was informed of the decision by his agent Tuesday morning, "but it is frustrating because I want to be with my team and I can't be with my team [Tuesday]."

MLB heard Sano's appeal Friday before announcing its decision. The incident began when Tigers pitcher Matt Boyd threw a pitch behind Sano, and the Twins third baseman responded by pointing and yelling at Boyd. Things got heated when catcher James McCann stepped in to make sure Sano didn't go after Boyd. But when McCann put his glove in Sano's face, Sano responded by shoving him. Umpires working the game viewed Sano's shove as more of a punch.

"I did not punch him," Sano said. "I was defending myself."

Boyd was fined. McCann went unpunished. Sano was the only one suspended.

"I was hoping for the best. I really don't care for the ruling," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I'm disappointed in it. I'll respect it, and we will abide by it. They cited a lot of different reasons why they upheld it, and I disagree."

Molitor's argument is that Sano was provoked twice, once by Boyd's pitch and again by McCann's glove. And he pointed out Sano was tossed in the fifth inning and already has missed part of a game.

"I don't think his reactions are surprising, given the fact he didn't initiate either one of those," Molitor said. "He had to miss a half-game already. You can cite whatever you want, but I don't think it added up to what he did."

Second baseman Brian Dozier hit, took grounders and ran the bases early, showing the left ankle sprain he suffered Friday has improved.

But Molitor wasn't quite ready to write his name in the lineup. He's worried how running the bases will affect Dozier's injury. Dozier, however, was an option to pinch hit if needed.

The new 10-day disabled list replaced the previous 15-day DL, encouraging teams to use it for players who didn't need that long to recover from an injury. But the Twins appear to be willing to play four or five games shorthanded if Dozier will be ready by the end of the week and won't need a stint on the DL.

"It's still kind of a high risk," Molitor said. "Maybe he could play and get away with it. I just thought [Tuesday], having him available is probably the better decision in the short term. If he keeps improving day to day as he has to this point, hopefully we will see him sooner than later."

Kyle Gibson made his first start since being demoted to Class AAA Rochester.

He allowed three runs and six hits in six innings in the Red Wings' 4-1 loss to Lehigh Valley. He struck out eight. After allowing two runs and three hits in the first, he allowed only one run and five hits over his last five innings.

Derek Falvey, the Twins' chief baseball officer, sees lefthander Kevin Chapman as someone who can provide relief depth at Class AAA Rochester.

Chapman came to the Twins on Monday from Atlanta in exchange for infielder Danny Santana, who was designated for assignment Friday. Chapman, 29, has 58 games of major league experience with Houston but had given up 10 earned runs in nine innings for Class AAA Gwinnett of the Braves system when the trade was made.

"He's handled lefthanders pretty well," Falvey said. "We got some ideas of how to help him, make some adjustments and see how it goes."

Lefthander Glen Perkins' bullpen session on Tuesday went well. If he can have another session or two like it, the Twins will discuss when he can face hitters. Perkins is recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder.