This was one thing Justin Morneau didn't expect, he said, in his first at-bat in a scheduled game in eight months: Boston Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester throwing him consecutive curveballs, the second called for a third strike. "I was surprised," said the Minnesota Twins first baseman. "I should have hit the first one. He probably knew I was taking. I don't think he usually doubles up on his curveball, from what I remember." What made this moment worth remembering is not the whiff but that Morneau, out since early last July with post-concussion symptoms, was back in a Twins uniform, playing in a game. On Tuesday, he had played in a "B" game here; this, however, was the next step in a progression that he hopes will result in the resumption of his major league career. "When I got hurt, I didn't think I was going be out that long, going to be hurt that bad," he said. "It was a while, but hopefully this is the first big step towards Opening Day and being in the lineup for the regular season." Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/news/story?id=6207570
