NEW YORK — Brian Dozier didn't sound discouraged about the Twins being swept in New York. It's a veteran's perspective, he said: Look at the process, not the result.
"I thought we played all right the first two games. We just didn't get the big hit," in 2-1 and 5-2 losses to the Yankees. "You get the big hit, it's a totally different series."
That's the message he hopes to spread as the team flies to Detroit: We still own a wild-card spot. If we play like we're capable, we'll be fine.
"The big thing is, and you don't want to get ahead of yourself, but there's still a good possibility we can come back here" for the wild-card game, he pointed out. "That's our goal."
The Twins have 10 games remaining, seven of them against the Tigers, who are fighting to stay out of last place in the AL Central.
"Our objective right now is to win one game tomorrow, against the Tigers," Dozier said. "That's easy to say, but that's a hungry team over there, a lot of young guys fighting for roster spots next year. So they can be dangerous. But if we still take care of business, we'l be just fine."
XXX
Paul Molitor kept glancing at the TV in the manager's office, a news report showing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, as he talked about his players from the Caribbean island. He can't blame them, he said, if it's hard to focus while friends and relatives are in the storm's path.
"We're trying to support them any way we can," he said. "But when your homeland is devastated the way Puerto Rco has been hit the past 20 hours, I'm sure it's a challenge to keep your focus."
Molitor said he's been checking in with Kennys Vargas, Eddie Rosario and Jose Berrios, and so far, all have said their families are safe.
