Twins game against Angels postponed
Minnesota will host day-night doubleheader on Saturday
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins' overworked bullpen will get an unexpected night of rest.
Minnesota's game on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels was postponed following an hour-long delay because of rain. One pocket of rain unexpectedly stalled out over the stadium and a second cell was following later in the evening, causing the game to be postponed.
The game will be made up as part of a split day-night doubleheader on Saturday. Friday's game will be made up at 12:10 p.m. CT with the regularly-scheduled game at 6:10 p.m. CT to follow. Tickets for Friday's game can be used for Saturday's early game or toward another game this season.
Target Field's gates will open at 11 a.m. for the first game and 5 p.m. for the second game.
The Twins altered their rotation slightly because of the postponement. Friday's expected starter, Mike Pelfrey (6-9, 4.09 ERA) will start the evening game against Los Angeles' Garrett Richards (13-11, 3.81). Kyle Gibson (10-10, 3.71), scheduled to start Saturday, will move to the earlier start against Andrew Heaney (6-3, 3.32).
"Well, I would rather play," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "I like the fluidity of it and it puts another wrinkle in the rotation going forward, potentially, as far as options to consider. But that's all right, we'll take the night off and I do think one of the better things is a beleaguered bullpen gets a blow today. Hopefully, tomorrow we'll have all hands on deck because we'll probably need it for two games."
The Twins' bullpen pitched 7 2/3 innings in Thursday's loss to the Angels after having to pitch five innings in Wednesday's extra-inning loss and six innings on Tuesday. The extra day should give Molitor a full bullpen to work with in the doubleheader, including starter Phil Hughes, who had been moved to the bullpen.
"We should be in good shape as far as rest," Molitor said. "The one benefit is giving these guys an extra day as a group."
Friday was the first postponement of the season at Target Field and the 12th in the stadium's six-year history.