MILWAUKEE -- The Twins held a pregame meeting today to "clear the air" over comments Jose Mijares and Joe Mauer made following Friday night's game.
Twins 'clear the air' with pregame meeting
Manager Ron Gardenhire wanted to address comments made by Jose Mijares and Joe Mauer after Friday's loss.
"Anytime these things happen, as a manager, have a little meeting, get it out of the way, clear the air so everybody knows what we're doing and on the same page," Manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's my job."
Mijares made it known that Mauer called only fastballs during Friday's decisive at-bat against Prince Fielder. Mauer said he did call fastballs but didn't ask for one down the middle.
"Every player's gotta be accountable and Mijares knows that," Gardenhire said. "He was upset last night and mad, but he understands that he's got the ball. If you don't like what the catcher calls, you can call timeout or shake, and he understands that. He made a mistake.
"The one thing the manager can do is second-guess the heck out of it because I get second guessed myself by [the media]. So I can say those things -- I would like to see a breaking ball -- but the pitcher can't. If he doesn't want to throw something, don't throw it, and that's being accountable."
TONIGHT'S GAME
Scott Baker snapped the Twins streak of 10 consecutive quality starts in Friday night's 4-3 loss to the Brewers.
Tonight, it's Francisco Liriano's turn. The lefthander has a 2.20 ERA in his past seven starts.
The Twins will be facing Yovani Gallardo, who went 6-0 between May 7 and June 4 but hasn't made it past the fifth inning in two of his past three starts.
Jim Thome will be available to pinch hit off the bench for the Twins.
Quick fact: Brewers closer John Axford has converted 17 consecutive save opportunities.
TWINS (32-42)
1. Ben Revere, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
5. Delmon Young, LF
6. Danny Valencia, 3B
7. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS
8. Jason Repko, RF
9. Francisco Liriano, LHP (4-6, 4.59 ERA)
BREWERS (42-35)
1. Rickie Weeks, 2B
2. Corey Hart, RF
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Casey McGehee, 3B
6. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
7. Jonathan Lucroy, C
8. Carlos Gomez, CF
9. Yovani Gallardo, RHP (8-4, 4.11 ERA)
Miller Park. First pitch: 6:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.