Twins lose, but Mays solid in 2-inning stint

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Mays finally fell asleep Thursday night, just 12 hours before his first game in front of a crowd since August of 2003.

Mays went to bed at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday but didn't fall asleep until about 1 a.m. Friday morning, awaking at his usual time, 5:30 a.m.

"I don't drink," Mays said. "I wish I did last night. It would have been nice to have something relax me.

"It was quite nerve-racking last night."

Mays had "Tommy John" reconstructive elbow surgery on his right, throwing arm Sept. 11, 2003. He spent all of last season rehabilitating the elbow, which included pitching several simulated games in Fort Myers.

But nothing seemed like Minnesota's Grapefruit League home-opener Friday afternoon at the Lee County Sports Complex, where the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Twins 5-2 in front of an announced crowd of 6,862 fans.

"It was good to see him back on the mound," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Mays, who was an All-Star in 2001. "That was the highlight of the day for me."

Mays pitched the first two innings, striking out three and walking one. He did not give up a run, and he only surrendered one hit.

"It's a little bit different being out there in front of the crowd," Mays said. "The first inning, I felt a little rusty. The second inning, I threw the ball better.

"I feel like I'm part of the team again. I don't feel like an outsider looking in. It might not be the end of the rainbow, but it's pretty close."

AT THE PLATE

None of the hitters had multiple hit games, and there were only two extra-base hits: a triple by Twins CF Lew Ford and a double by Blue Jays C Guillermo Quiroz.

ON THE MOUND

Twins LHP reliever J.C. Romero gave up four of his team's five earned runs and walked three in just one inning of work, the third inning. "J.C. struggled," Gardenhire said. "He was all over the place. Hopefully, he'll just relax and move on from there."

NOTEWORTHY

Twins closer RHP Joe Nathan, who ranked third in the American League with 44 saves last season, signed a two-year contract extension Friday. "We've got a good chance to win a few games here, so I'm excited about that," Nathan said. "Hopefully we can put together a good run the next couple of years." RHP Juan Rincon also signed a two-year contract extension. He went 11-6 with a 2.63 ERA last season. The contract terms were not disclosed. All of the 40 players on the Twins' roster have now signed for the 2005 season. ... Twins LF Shannon Stewart left the ballpark with the flu Friday and is questionable for today.