MINNEAPOLIS -- The 2021 Twins are undefeated in nine-inning games this season. The problem? They're winless when their contests stretch into extra innings.

The modified extra-innings rule that places an automatic runner on second base to start the 10th inning has not been kind to the Twins. They have allowed that runner to score in all three extra-innings games this season, while going 0-for-3 themselves.

The result? Three losses in extras that stand out prominently in their 5-3 record entering Sunday. But they refuse to blame the rule. Both sides have to play with it, after all.

"I don't have control over that," Michael Pineda said. "If this is the rule, it's the rule. So we're not thinking too much about that rule. We're thinking, 'Just win it and try to get an out.' That's it. We're not focused on that rule."

So far, it's been a matter of execution by the offense. On Saturday, two popouts and a groundout snuffed the 10th inning. Tuesday in Detroit, the Twins had a runner thrown out at the plate while running the contact play from third. On Opening Day, Minnesota struck out three times in the 10th against Josh Hader, even with two of its best contact hitters at the plate.

At this point, the Twins refuse to read too much into those struggles.

"We're talking about 10 at-bats collectively or something right there, a dozen at the most," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "I'm not going to evaluate anything going on based on a dozen at-bats. You'd have a tough time evaluating something over 50 or 100 at-bats, forget about 10 at-bats. We have good hitters."

Moreover, the Twins seem to be confident in their strategy of letting their hitters swing away in such situations instead of bunting -- and sticking with the contact play from third when applicable.

Considering how little the Twins bunt in general, having a hitter square around against one of their opponents' best relievers might not bring the same comfort as swinging away. And when it comes to the contact play, Baldelli noted that hitters won't often hit the ball right at drawn-in infielders, as the Twins have done this season.

"There will be particular situations where we could make something happen, more in the light of a sacrifice bunt or going down that road," Baldelli said. "But most of the time, I think our best chance to win is sending good hitters up there and letting them take a crack at the at-bat. I would bet we do see it at some point this year."

Saturday's losing pitcher, Taylor Rogers, was upset about the loss on his record despite the fact that he allowed only one hit in his outing. But he also does understand that from an injury and roster standpoint, there are advantages for some of his teammates under this arrangement.

"Trying to look bigger picture, that's something [where] we didn't play 17 innings, and we don't need to make two [roster] moves in the bullpen for that type of stuff," Rogers said. "So, bigger picture, I think that's probably the best move. But right now, it kind of stings."

Rooker's IL stint won't take long
Brent Rooker is doing "a lot better," Baldelli said, after the outfielder was scratched from Wednesday's starting lineup and placed on the 10-day injured list with a cervical neck strain. He expects Rooker to be ready to return on Saturday, when he'll first be eligible for activation.

Rooker is well enough that he'll head to the alternate training site at Triple-A St. Paul's facility to start getting at-bats. Josh Donaldson is also expected to get at-bats in St. Paul on Sunday, and could return to the club as soon as Monday if everything goes well.

• Donaldson 'in good place' after running test

No plans for alt site opponents
Though players at many alternate training sites around the league have been able to play games against other teams' personnel, the Twins currently do not have plans to scrimmage against real opponents due to their relative geographic isolation.

The only alternate training site within driving distance of CHS Field in St. Paul is the Brewers' site in Appleton, Wis., a four-hour drive each way. The Twins made it through last season conducting only intrasquad scrimmages -- and it appears that's how things will stay.

"We’d prefer us not to have to do an overnight and stay, or travel, so we may, depending on how things go over the next few weeks, if we feel like we could do a bus trip or otherwise, we’d have those conversations with the Brewers and some other clubs that maybe we could find a way to do that," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. "But at present, we don’t have that plan.”