Morneau gets standing eau- vation
MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Morneau glanced down at his White Sox uniform and wondered what the reception might be like.
After all, Morneau played 11 seasons for the Twins, won the American League MVP award in 2006, was an All- Star from 2007 to 2010 and played on five AL Central championship teams wrapped around the Sox’ title in 2005.
“To go on the other side of it, some people’s feelings might not be as warm as you’d hope them to be,’’ he said.
Morneau, who batted fifth against the Twins as the Sox’ designated hitter in the first game of a three- game series, was speaking from a strange place for him, the visitors’ dugout at Target Field. A few hours later, when he stepped up to face Twins right- hander Ricky Nolasco in the second inning, the fans gave him a standing ovation.
“Hopefully, everyone’s nice like they always have been to me in Minnesota,’’ he had said. Turns out he was right. Morneau then barely missed hitting his second home run with the Sox, lining a single off the right- field wall for his eighth hit in 35 plate appearances, and he’s still finding his way after bouncing back from offseason elbow surgery.
“The swing feels good,’’ he said. “A couple of days off [ two no- DH starts missed against the Cubs at Wrigley Field] helped my body recover a little and sort of recharge the battery coming in here. I feel like I can go up there and battle.
“The amount of work it takes to get ready isn’t the fun part, but stepping into the batter’s box and battling those guys is really all we play for. I’m comfortable doing that, and it’s good.’’
Rowand named AFL manager
Aaron Rowand, the popular center fielder on the Sox’ 2005 World Series champion, will manage the Glendale Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League. The Desert Dogs’ roster will be made up of top prospects from the Sox, Astros, Dodgers, Cardinals and Nationals.
Rowand, an outfield-base-running coordinator in the Sox’ system, stepped up his responsibilities this year after being a special instructor in player development in 2015.
Frazier scratched from lineup
Third baseman Todd Frazier ( 29 home runs) was a late scratch before the game with flu- like symptoms. Tyler Saladino, scheduled to play second, started at third, and Carlos Sanchez played second.
Brett Lawrie continues to work through the hamstring issue that put him on the disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to July 22.
Lawrie, who had missed one game before coming out of a game July 21, expressed some frustration when talking about the injury that at first wasn’t expected to put him on the DL.
“It’s not even like a hamstring,’’ he said. “It’s like lateral. There are a couple of other things in there. They’re all kind of moving on each other, so it’s not necessarily one thing.’’
Rodon likely Sunday
Manager Robin Ventura said left- hander Carlos Rodon, who seems fully recovered from a sprained left wrist, likely will start the series finale against the Twins.
That would give James Shields two extra days of rest with a day off Monday after his season- high 117- pitch outing Tuesday against the Cubs.
“Everybody gets an extra day,’’ Ventura said.