ST. PETERSBURG -- Designated hitter Logan Morrison was Friday night's homecoming king, picking a perfect spot to hit his first home run for the Twins. He launched a solo shot into the right-field bleachers in the second inning of an 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Rays at Tropicana Field, where he played during the 2016-17 seasons.
"Nice to see him get on track,'' Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We know he can do it.''
Morrison did plenty last season for the Rays, where he produced 38 homers and 85 RBIs in 2017. He received a friendly ovation from the fans when he was introduced.
Actually, any place (or any time) would have been the perfect situation for Morrison to break out, since he entered Friday night's game with an .068 batting average, the lowest in the Major Leagues among qualified players.
"He has been working at it," Molitor said before the game. "I think he's getting close. Anybody who gets off to a slow start has to deal with the mental as well as the physical. He keeps grinding."
Morrison has been known for slow starts. He has a career .215 batting average in April, and he batted just .100 in 19 April games with Tampa Bay.
"When I first got here [with the Rays], it wasn't good, but I got through that," Morrison said before the game. "You just keep going. You don't give up, and good things can happen.
"I have good memories of being here. When you look at the numbers, I didn't hit [as many homers] here, at least like I did on the road. I can't say I'm really comfortable here in this stadium. But I had a nice time here, and I'll always remember this place.''
Friday night provided one more fond memory.