Minnesota Twins

Twins rookie outfielder Oswaldo Arcia delivered a pinch-hit, solo home run in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 8-3 loss to Atlanta. It was Arcia's fourth home run and first in 11 games.

Arcia, who didn't start once during the Atlanta series, is batting .115 (3 for 26) with one double, one home run and two RBI in his last 10 games (seven starts).

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire expressed great disappointment with starting pitcher Vance Worley, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester following Wednesday's loss at Atlanta. Worley, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Philadelphia, allowed three home runs in the loss and saw his ERA jump to 7.21.

"We're looking for performance here," Gardenhire said, per the Pioneer Press. "We got him in a trade. We need performance. You've seen what's happened here in a row with our starters. We needed him to step up, and it didn't work out."

Gardenhire hopes the demotion will get the right-hander on track.

"He needs to go down and get going," Gardenhire said. "I think we're just searching for the guy that we got in the trade. He's got the stuff. Now he's got to put it out on the field."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said prior to Wednesday's game at Atlanta he was tempted to move Aaron Hicks up in the lineup, but opted against it because he said Hicks was comfortable batting lower in the lineup. Although the Twins lost 8-3, Gardenhire's decision to keep Hicks batting seventh paid off.

Hicks homered and had a career-high three hits against Atlanta. It was just the second multi-hit game of his career, with the other coming May 13 when he hit two home runs against the White Sox. Hicks is batting .206 (13 for 63) with one triple, two doubles, four home runs and eight RBI in 18 May games.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau singled twice and added an RBI Wednesday at Atlanta, producing multiple hits for a third straight game and for the 11th time in May. Morneau is batting .378 (31 for 82) with no home runs, six doubles, 10 runs and 20 RBI in 20 May games.

The Twins demoted Vance Worley to the minors after his miserable start against the Braves Wednesday. They haven't said Kyle Gibson will take his place, but considering the top prospect was a top candidate to fill the last opening in the Twins' rotation -- a spot that ultimately went to Samuel Deduno -- you have to be intrigued by the possibility.

Like Al Melchior said on Wednesday's Fantasy Baseball Today, Gibson doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. He's no Kevin Gausman or even Zack Wheeler, but in leagues where the next big thing is inevitably the next hot claim, perhaps now is the time to make a move for him.