MINNEAPOLIS — Twins outfielder Jason Repko, who was hit in the back of the head by a pitch from the Indians’ Justin Masterson on Sunday, is still experiencing concussion-like symptoms, and is unlikely to return this season.

Repko has been bothered by headaches and nausea, and must be cleared by Major League Baseball before he can return to action.

“The past couple days he had a CT and an MRI on his head and they both came back normal, but he’s still complaining of concussion symptoms,” Twins trainer Rick McWane said. “So, we’ll do further testing. he hasn’t been ruled out for the rest of the season, but I’d say it’s unlikely.”

Span glad to be back against Mariners

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins center fielder Denard Span, who has been dealing with migraines related to his concussion sustained in a home-plate collision on June 3, was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday.

Span started in center field and batted leadoff against the Mariners. he went 0-for-3 at the plate before being removed after the fourth inning.

Span said before the game that he was “nervous” about making his return.

“It was a big sigh of relief getting back out there,” Span said. “I was nervous, but that last at-bat definitely felt good. when I came out of the game, I took three or four big deep breaths because I just got over it and got it out of the way. so, it felt good.”

it was Span’s first game back since Aug. 13, as he played in nine games in early August after missing nearly two months.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire also was pleased to see that Span’s return went as planned and that he had no issues out on the field.

“I think he was excited,” Gardenhire said. “He saw the ball good, and I think he felt pretty good about being out there. it was nice to see.”

Getting back into game action before season’s end was Span’s goal.

“It’s very important,” Span said. “I think if I would have went the whole offseason without playing and just showing up to Spring Training without playing for six, seven months, I think the hurdle probably would have been through the roof, trying to get over that hump. it would’ve been a lot tougher for me. so, I think getting back on the field is going to do something for me mentally.”

Gardenhire said Span is expected to play every few days, as the club doesn’t want to take any risks with Span.

“It’s going to be here and there,” Gardenhire said. “We’re not going to go out there and beat him up and play a lot of games. He’s in there tonight and then we’ll see about [Thursday] and maybe one in Cleveland. It’s not going to be a lot. We just want to make sure he’s OK and can get some at-bats and get through it, and leave on a positive note.”

Span, who first started dealing with migraines and vertigo in 2009 when he was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis, said the concussion in June brought back those symptoms. he said he feels healthy enough to play, but wants to make sure his symptoms don’t return next year.

“I think it’s still a work in progress,” Span said. “Before this season, I had some flare-ups with the dizziness and I had a plan and routine I’d go through daily to keep it in check. but I think now, dealing with this concussion, even in the offseason I have to come up with a new routine and game plan to move forward and keep my symptoms in check for next year.”

ANAHEIM — Twins first baseman Justin Morneau underwent baselinetesting for his mild concussion-like symptoms on Saturday, and the results showed he’s making good progress, according to Twinstrainer Rick McWane.

Morneau, who suffered his concussion while trying to break up a doubleplay on July 7 last year, started experiencing symptoms after divingfor a ground ball on Sunday and hasn’t played since.

he originally had a concussion test on Monday, which showed he wasmildly below baseline, and this test showed he’s almost back to wherehe needs to be to return.

“He had improvement, but I wouldn’t say it’s back to normal,” McWanesaid. “The reports that I got say that he’s going in the rightdirection.

“The test he takes is just one tool we use to evaluate theconcussion. So it’s really more up to the doctor to determine when hisscores are appropriate. but again, it’s one tool, and we also have togo with how he feels. So once the doctors feel he’s ready to return,we submit that request to the league to approve it. but we’re not atthat point.”

Oblique strain ends Duensing’s start in second

ANAHEIM — Twins left-hander Brian Duensing left Saturday’s startagainst the Angels after just 1 1/3 innings because of a right obliquestrain.

He is considered day to day.

Duensing walked Erick Aybar to open the second inning before JeffMathis laid down a sacrifice bunt down the third-base line that wasfielded by Duensing. he made the play to get Mathis out at first, butafter two pitches to Peter Bourjos, he grabbed his side and was met atthe mound by the Twins’ training staff.

Duensing, who said the discomfort got worse as the game went along,was then removed in favor of right-hander Lester Oliveros.

“I just seemed to feel a little sore,” Duensing said. “I felt itwarming up in the bullpen and I thought it wasn’t really serious andthought it was just some soreness. but when I started to warm up forthe game, I kinda felt it a couple times. and I think every once in awhile I really started to feel it and tried to compensate.”

Oliveros struck out Bourjos looking for the second out but served upan RBI double to Alberto Callaspo before getting Howard Kendrick tofly out to center field to end the inning.

Duensing allowed five runs on three hits and two walks in his shortouting. he gave up a grand slam to Mark Trumbo in the first inning of the Twins’ 10-6 loss.

but he said he’s hopeful that he’ll be able to avoid the disabledlist, as he didn’t feel like it was a major injury.

“I think we’re going to try to go day to day,” Duensing said. “Theythink it might be intercostal, like the cartilage in between the ribs.The only time I really feel it is when I move down to crunch it.”

But if Duensing does go on the disabled list, he’ll join fellowstarters Nick Blackburn (forearm), Scott Baker (elbow), and FranciscoLiriano (shoulder) on the 15-day DL.

“It’s crazy,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of the injuriessuffered by his starting rotation. “I’ve never seen anything like it.I keep saying that, but it’s true.”

Gardenhire added the club will announce roster moves prior to Sunday’sgame against the Angels to bring some depth in time for Monday’sdoubleheader against the White Sox.

Gardenhire would not say who would be recalled, but it appearsright-hander Liam Hendriks, the sixth-ranked prospect in the organization, could come up from Triple-A Rochester to start Tuesday’s game at Target Field. Hendriks isn’t on the 40-man roster but could take the spot left by Jim Thome’s departure to Cleveland.

Liriano told to continue rehab on shoulder

ANAHEIM — Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano met with Angels teamphysician Lewis Yocum to get a second opinion on his strained leftshoulder on Saturday, but was told to continue rehabbing his injury.

Liriano, on the disabled list since Aug. 26, already underwent an MRIexam last week. it showed no further damage to his shoulder. he alsohad one in May, when he missed 14 games with a similar injury.

“It was nothing new,” Liriano said. “It was the same as what thedoctors told me in Minnesota. So I’m just going to rehab and see how Ifeel in a couple days.”

Liriano said he plans on starting his throwing program on Monday orWednesday, and that he still wants to pitch before the season ends aslong as his shoulder gets better.

“It just depends on how I feel but that’s the plan,” Liriano said. “Iwant to throw at least a couple of innings before I go home.”

Mauer sits out again with respiratory infection

ANAHEIM — Twins catcher Joe Mauer stayed back at the team hotel withan upper respiratory infection on Saturday and missed his secondstraight game against the Angels.

Twins trainer Rick McWane described Mauer’s symptoms as “generalcongestion” and “fluid in his ear,” and added Mauer didn’t feel anybetter on Saturday.

“He says he feels about the same as he did yesterday and is going tostay at the hotel again tonight,” McWane said.

It’s unknown whether Mauer will play in the series finale against theAngels on Sunday. he also missed six games with a sore neck beforecoming back to play on Tuesday and Wednesday against the White Sox.

Outfielder Jason Repko is also battling an illness, as he came to theballpark with an upset stomach that was causing him to throw up. ButMcWane said Repko was available off the bench, if needed.

Sidelined by migraines, Span starts to work out

ANAHEIM — Center fielder Denard Span, who went home for a week afterdealing with migraines related to his concussion suffered on June 3,made his return to Target Field on Saturday to participate in baseballactivities.

Span, on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 15 with migrainesymptoms, flew back to the Twin Cities on Friday after resting at hishome Tampa, Fla. Saturday marked the first time he resumed baseballactivities and everything went well, according to Twins trainer Rick McWane.

“He hit, threw and ran around with no problems,” McWane said. “Sowe’ll talk to him when we get back and see where he’s at. but he had agood day today.”

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire added he’s hopeful that Span will returnbefore the season is over, but said it’ll be up to Span to see how hefeels moving forward.

“I honestly haven’t even gone there yet,” Gardenhire said. “We’ve hadenough issues getting him back and working out. At this point, Ireally have no plan for what I’m going to be able to do with him. Hissituation is going to be basically dictated by him. I think the planmore than anything else is try to get him on the field and play somebaseball before the season ends.”