Twins Put Hunter on the DL

The Minnesota Twins put center fielder Torii Hunter on the 15-day disabled list Sunday after learning the five-time Gold Glove award winner has a stress fracture in his left foot.

Hunter was the third Twins outfielder put on the DL in the last four days, a discouraging development for a team that is trying to catch the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox in the American League Central race. He isn’t expected to be out much longer than two weeks, however.

Lew Ford strained a muscle on his right side while swinging at a pitch in Thursday’s game, and Shannon Stewart returned to the DL for the second time this season after injuring his left foot again Saturday night.

Outfielder Josh Rabe was recalled from triple-A Rochester to take Hunter’s place, and he is expected to join the team for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Rondell White’s rehabilitation assignment ended hastily when Stewart was injured, and White was the designated hitter Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. Jason Tyner was brought up after Ford’s injury, and he played left. Michael Cuddyer was in right field, and Nick Punto, a utility infielder who became the starting third baseman a month ago, started for Hunter in center.

Tyner will probably get most of the starts there while Hunter is out, with Punto moving back to third.

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Saturday marked the first time in nearly three decades a full day of major league games was played without a save recorded.

There were six blown saves in the 15-game schedule, including two each in Pittsburgh’s 7-6 victory over Washington and Cincinnati’s 3-2 win against Colorado. The Nationals and Reds won with ninth-inning rallies.

The last time baseball went a complete day without a save was Sept. 15, 1978, when all 26 teams were in action during a 14-game schedule, including a doubleheader, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Baseball expanded to 28 teams in 1993 when Florida and Colorado were added. Arizona and Tampa Bay began play five years later.