Cal Quantrill had a strong outing Thursday in Cleveland as the Indians beat the Twins 4-1, and he'll start again today at Target Field (6:40 p.m., BSN) when the teams meet after splitting a doubleheader Tuesday.
Thursday's game might have some carryover. Quantrill and Miguel Sano exchanged words in the sixth inning when Quantrill was unhappy over Josh Donaldson swinging at a 3-0 pitch.
Twins bench coach Bill Evers, acting as manager while Rocco Baldelli was on paternity leave for that game, went old-school postgame by saying about Quantrill, "He should be happy he's getting guys out rather than mouthing off to them. That's my personal opinion."
Said Quantrill, "I think he just didn't like something I must of said earlier in the game ... whatever."
According to cleveland.com, after Donaldson ended the the sixth inning by grounding out on a 3-0 pitch, Quantrill told him, "Nice 3-0 swing." In the seventh, when Sano came to the plate, he told Quantrill, "Why don't you say that to his face?" Quantrill replied, "I did."
"The fact that they care enough to say something is good," said Quantrill. "We're playing meaningful baseball. At least I think everyone on the field cared about today's game."
The Twins won three of four in that road series and are 11-7 against Cleveland entering the teams' final meeting of the season.
Quantrill is 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA. He'll face rookie righthander Griffin Jax (3-3, 6.72).
BTW, after yesterday's injury scare, Twins rookie starter Joe Ryan is no worse for the wear today and might not even miss his next start, manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Nick Gordon is playing shortstop today for the Twins, with Jake Cave starting in left field against the righthander Quantrill.
TWINS LINEUP
Luis Arraez, 3B
Byron Buxton, CF
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Josh Donaldson, DH
Max Kepler, RF
Miguel Sano, 1B
Nick Gordon, SS
Ryan Jeffers, C
Jake Cave, LF
CLEVELAND LINEUP
Myles Straw, CF
Bradley Zimmer, RF
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Franmil Reyes, DH
Bobby Bradley, 1B
Yu Chang, 2B
Austin Hedges, C
Andres Gimenez, SS
Oscar Mercado, LF
