Twins manager Rocco Baldelli made and remade his lineup card more than once Saturday before his team's 11-1 victory over the Cubs at Target Field.
Whatever he did, it worked.
Baldelli batted power hitter Joey Gallo leadoff for the first time in his nine-year career and moved recently recalled Alex Kirilloff second in the order, just behind Gallo.
The result: the Twins hit five booming home runs on a rain-delayed, breezy afternoon. Gallo, Jorge Polanco and Carlos Correa each belted one, while Kirilloff homered twice and doubled one week after he was recalled from Class AAA St. Paul.
And they did it with slumping designated hitter Byron Buxton on a day off.
"A few, a few," Baldelli said when asked how many lineup cards he filled. "Sometimes you just look up and you go, `We're going to grab Joey Gallo and stick him at the top of the lineup.' "
Sometimes? Well, like never, until Saturday.
Baldelli said bench coach Jayce Tingler encouraged the idea concerning a player who had been 3-for-26 at the plate in May, with 11 strikeouts and no home runs.