PITTSBURGH — Brian Dozier noticed he was “getting hammered” on social media in the wake of his Sunday criticism of Baltimore Orioles rookie catcher Chance Sisco and his ninth-inning bunt against the shift in a 7-0 game.

While even some Twins fans wondered why the star second baseman and several of his teammates would make an issue of Sisco’s bunt, noting the Twins could have removed the shift if they felt their lead was safe, Dozier said critics are missing the point.

The Orioles didn’t hold Ryan LaMarre at first base after his two-out pinch single in the top of the ninth.

“When they didn’t hold our runner on, they conceded to the fact they didn’t want us to steal, so we didn’t steal,” Dozier said. “We could have very easily stolen and put up more runs, so therefore in return you don’t bunt. That’s what everybody is missing in this whole thing.”

Even Bill James, considered the father of modern analytics, took to Twitter late Sunday to suggest a league suspension for “any veteran player or (manager) who makes comments suggesting that a young player is doing something improper when he is simply trying to win. That’s intolerable.”

Dozier declined comment after seeing the tweet from James, a senior adviser since 2003 for the Boston Red Sox, but the Twins’ union representative did not soften his stance on the Sisco bunt.

“Everyone just thinks, ‘He’s whining because they bunted against the shift,’ ” Dozier said. “That’s how baseball is played. That’s just how the game is played. That’s just how it is.”

While some of the so-called unwritten rules have disappeared or been modified over time, Dozier allowed it’s possible there will come a day when the gray areas of baseball justice are eliminated entirely.

“We all have our opinions on the shift and whether it’s then OK to do that,” he said. “My personal opinion is I think this is a perfect scenario: They weren’t holding us on, so therefore don’t bunt. That’s where it starts. Other than that, you try to find a way to help your team win.”

GARVER SHAKES IT OFF

Rookie catcher Mitch Garver had no day-after issues in the wake of being hit by Orioles hitter Manny Machado’s long follow-through Sunday.

The left side of his head was still sore to the touch, he said, but there was no headache and he wasn’t tested for concussion. Garver, who was available off the bench Monday, had no problem with Machado or his reaction after the fourth-inning play that resulted in a strikeout on a foul tip that Garver remarkably held onto. Related Articles Twins rally twice against Detroit, pull within half-game of Central leading White Sox

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“I watched the video,” Garver said. “I went down, and he came over and kind of checked on me and made sure I was OK. I understand. Guys have long backswings. It’s part of the game. It happens. It’s just random. He didn’t do it intentionally.”

In March 2015, Orioles star Adam Jones conked then Twins backup catcher Josmil Pinto three times in the same spring training game. Pinto suffered a concussion that plagued him for months, limiting him to 72 games in the minors.

ROSTER RUMBLINGS

According to the preliminary roster for the Triple-A Red Wings, right-hander Fernando Romero will open the year at that level along with fellow starting prospects Adalberto Mejia and Aaron Slegers. But Stephen Gonsalves, Nick Gordon and Zack Littell appear ticketed for Double-A Chattanooga.

Minor-league seasons start Thursday, but the Red Wings’ opener isn’t until Friday.

The top outfield options at Triple-A are Zack Granite and Jake Cave, the latter of whom was acquired from the New York Yankees late in spring training. Gordon, an infielder who hit .417 in 24 spring at-bats, returns to the Southern League after struggling there in the second half last year.

Littell went a combined 19-1 with a 2.12 earned-run average in the minors last year, including 14 starts at Double-A.

BRIEFLY

With no designated hitter for the Twins’ two-game interleague series against the Pirates, Logan Morrison (0 for 11 with two walks) was on the bench Monday. Twins manager Paul Molitor said he was leaning toward starting Morrison at first over Joe Mauer on Wednesday night, which would make it easier for Mauer to play in the Twins’ home opener on Thursday afternoon.

The Twins have eight home runs in their past three games, but all have come with the bases empty.