Twins shuffle starters: Slowey starts Thursday, Perkins on Saturday

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 7, 2008 - 7:05 PM

CHICAGO — The Twins will place righthander Scott Baker on the 15-day disabled list today because of a strained right groin and recall lefthander Glen Perkins from Class AAA Rochester to pitch Saturday against Boston.

Baker will be placed on the DL to make room on the roster for Kevin Slowey, who is scheduled to pitch Thursday against the White Sox.

The team will need to make another roster move to make room for Perkins, who has gone 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA in seven games for Rochester.

Perkins has had two good starts in a row -- one with General Manager Bill Smith watching, and one with former GM Terry Ryan watching.

Baker had a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday that showed only mild inflammation, and he insists his groin feels better than it did last week.

"The main thing is you want to be careful with it," pitching coach Rick Anderson said. "That's one of the toughest injuries that a pitcher can deal with."

Baker knew he was going to miss Saturday's start, meaning he wouldn't have pitched again until at least May 15. He will be eligible to come off the DL on May 19.

"Those extra few days aren't going to hurt anything," he said. "I'm fine with it."

Liriano turns corner

Saturday actually is Francisco Liriano's next day to pitch. The Twins won't be recalling him this time, but Class AAA Rochester manager Stan Cliburn said the lefthander took a nice step forward Monday.

Liriano held Columbus to one run on two hits over five innings, striking out four. This, after going 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA in his four previous minor league starts.

Cliburn said Liriano continued to struggle commanding his fastball, leading to four walks, but there was a difference in body language.

"He was more into the flow of the game," Cliburn said. "I think he realizes he's got things to work on. He knows it's not going to be an easy road back, but he's going to put all his effort into it, and [Monday] night was a start."

Etc.

• Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is scheduled to rejoin the team for tonight's game. Funeral services for his brother, Mike Gardenhire, were held Tuesday in Okmulgee, Okla.

Third base coach Scott Ullger has managed the past four games in Gardenhire's place, with a perfect mark until Tuesday's loss.

"It's a team effort,'' Ullger said. "I'm just pinch hitting for Gardy. ... He's going through some tough times, I'm sure this is probably a relief for him that we're playing pretty good."

• The Twins started a stretch of 20 games in 20 days Tuesday, and that means more playing time for Mike Redmond, who has caught just four games this season.

Ullger said Redmond likely will relieve Joe Mauer for one of the next two games.

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