Here are three thoughts following the Twins loss to Houston on Tuesday
HOME PLATE HAPPENINGS: Even with the league banning collisions at home plate, there are still exciting plays at home when the third base coach waves that runner home. And there were two on Tuesday. Houston could have done more damage in the first inning. Alex Bregman doubled and was waved home on Jose Altuve's single. Eddie Rosario fielded the ball and threw on the money to Kurt Suzuki, who was able to tag our Bregman with some room to spare. It was Rosario's fifth assist of the season after finishing second in the league last season with 16. Houston had its moment as well. The Twins fell behind 5-4 but finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position when Jorge Polanco singled to center with Trevor Plouffe, who's not a fast runner, on second. Plouffe was waived home, and it looked like he could beat Jake Marisnick's throw from center. But Marisnick knows what he's doing. He took his time and threw a one-hop strike to catcher Evan Gattis, who tagged Plouffe just as he reached for the plate. Any other Twin scores on that play, but Marisnick had to execute on his end. ``Closed on the ball. Strong arm," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. ``You're hoping for a misfire but he was right on the button."
ALTUVE TOO MUCH: Jose Altuve was given Monday off, ending a league-leading run of 202 consecutive games played. He was back in the lineup on Tuesday. ``I don't think I've ever seen him have a bad at bat," Molitor said before the game. Altuve went 4-for-4 with an RBI and is now 11 hits shy of 1,000 for his career. All for hits were to center field - despite the pitches not being in the same location. Guess the day off helped. ``You just try to make a good pitch and hope he can hit it to someone," Twins lefthander Hector Santiago said.
RISP FAILURES: Entering Tuesday, the Twins led the majors with 56 home runs since June 26. They hit three more on Tuesday - but lost. One reason was that they were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. And that one hit came when Plouffe was thrown out at home plate. ``We got the home runs to supply our offense but we certainly missed out on opportunities to execute, and that was a big part of the game," Molitor said. ``Not advancing guys from second and third with no outs and getting them in from third. Missed two, three opportunities in that regard." Houston shifts more than most teams, and there was money to made slapping the ball to the opposite field. Joe Mauer has recognized it and gotten hits in both games this series that way. (by the way, HOW CAN ANY TEAM SWING ITS INFIELD OVER TO THE RIGHT WHEN MAUER BATS??. THAT'S NUTTY!!!!) Ahem, Molitor mentioned that his young pups might want to look to moving the chains once in awhile rather than swung for the fences. Miguel Sano did that all night. Eddie Rosario struck out four times, chasing pitches above and below the zone. Molitor was asked if the early home runs could influence hitters into thinking everything is leaving the park. ``Some have that as a more prevalent thought than others," Molitor said. ``I think Miggy is learning, little by little. He's an example of a guy where sometimes he wants to finish an inning instead of extending it. Some of these guys might get caught up in that from time to time. That's what we have to keep preaching, just trying to keep the line moving."
