Twins’ Edouard Julien appears to be headed to minors to make room for Royce Lewis

HOUSTON – The Twins did not announce any roster changes Sunday and declined to confirm them. Royce Lewis will return to the team Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. But it seemed that they made an exception to this policy to Édouard Julien.

The 25-year-old second baseman, mired in a 5-for-40 slump since May 16, was summoned to the manager. Rocco Baldellioffice after the Twins’ 4-3 victory Sunday. He then emerged and accepted hugs from his teammates, apparently having been informed he would be sent back to Class AAA St. Paul to make room for Lewis.

Baldelli also did not confirm the decision and Julien did not speak to journalists. But the manager said there was no obvious way to make room for Lewis on the 26-man roster.

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“The vast majority of times when a roster decision comes, on the day it comes, there’s a pretty simple decision that makes the most sense. … Sometimes there’s no right decision or right decision ” Baldelli said. “You have to make the best decision in a difficult scenario.”

Julien, who hit just .207 this season after a stellar rookie year in 2023, isn’t the only Twins player underperforming, but as an infielder who can be optioned rather than cut, he seems that the Twins chose to give him a chance to turn his season around. against Class AAA launchers.

Pitching on his hometown mound

Simeon Woods Richardson grew up in suburban Houston, about 20 miles from Minute Maid Park, where he spent many summer afternoons cheering on the Astros.

“When you watch it as a kid, watching those guys come play, you try to be like them,” the Sugar Land, Texas, native said. “You see how they throw the diamond, see how they run, see how they take ground balls.”

And on Sunday, he was able to see what it was like to present their project to them.

With a crowd of friends and family numbering more than four dozen in the stands, Woods Richardson pitched 4⅓ innings on his hometown mound, striking out six and allowing only three hits – although two were home runs, accounting for all three Astros runs. .

“It was a little different. I took a few deep breaths,” the right-hander said. “I locked in with RJ (catcher Ryan Jeffers). Yeah, you’re at home, but you’re still playing. You still have to execute.”

He mostly did, except for the explosion to center field by the Astros catcher. Victor Caratini on an 0-and-2 changeup, a home run occurred while Woods Richardson’s parents were being interviewed by Roku, which was broadcasting the game. And in the third round, Kyle Tucker started with just one and Alex Bergman hit a curveball into the Crawford Boxes in left field.

“I felt like I fell behind a few times, but I was trying to execute, trying to pound the zone as best I could,” he said. “Once you get on the field, it’s your competitive nature. I can flip the switch easily. It’s a hard thing (to go) from being a fan to being a part of it, but once you’re in in competition, it’s a different ball game.”

Overcoming explosions

Twins starting pitchers have allowed 12 home runs over the past five days, but the team has won three of the games. This is the most home runs allowed in a single trip in the Twins rotation since September 14-18, 2008, when Nick Blackburn abandoned four and Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker And Glen Perkins returned two each.

“We want to attack hitters. There are a lot of times in the game where it’s better to attack than throw the ball out of the zone,” Baldelli said. “Sometimes you’re going to have to run a few home runs.”

Saints beat Red Wings

The St. Paul Saints finished a 13-game road trip with an 8-1 loss to Rochester thanks to a gutsy start from Randy Dobnakwho went six innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking three, and Matt Wallner, who contributed a two-run homer and an RBI double to go along with his own run. Lewis went 1 for 4 with a single in his sixth rehab game.