Baker does all he can to end skid

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Scott Baker gave the Twins the kind of start they need to end a losing streak, holding the Rays to one run over seven innings Saturday.

The bullpen gave it away in a 4-3 loss.

But Baker kept the ball down as well has he has all year in holding Tampa Bay to four hits and lowering his ERA to 4.50.

His big moment came in the fifth, when the Rays had runners on first and third with no outs. Baker promptly struck out Reid Brignac, got Sam Fuld to pop out and Johnny Damon to ground out. Second baseman Luke Hughes made a nice diving stop on Damon's grounder.

"That's the name of the game," Baker said, "making a pitch in a good location."

Baker threw 96 pitches through seven innings. How did he feel?

"I felt fine," he said.

"You let them know you feel good, and you let them make their decision," Baker said. "Obviously, it's their decision, and it always will be and I stay out of that business."

Mauer updateThere might be a Joe Mauer sighting in the clubhouse Sunday.

Mauer remained at the team hotel Saturday as he recovered from a viral infection. But he has made enough progress that he could show up before Sunday's game.

"He's feeling better," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Held some light food down with no problem. The plan is for him to join us tomorrow, come to the ballpark and maybe do a little light stuff if he is feeling up to it."

The Twins also hope that Mauer will travel with them to Baltimore for his annual check-up with the specialist who helped him with his inflamed sacroiliac joint in 2009. Mauer then would leave for the Twin Cites to continue his recovery.

Last year, he spent all of camp with the San Francisco Giants. That was good. But as the regular season approached, starters were staying in games longer, Holm didn't play much and he felt he needed a couple of weeks to get into playing shape.

The Twins cut him this year just as key players got healthy and needed playing time, and Holm stayed sharp in minor league spring training games.

"I got down and got to play," Holm said. "I think it helped me play well."

He also was around long enough to catch most of the Twins pitchers, so he's comfortable in that aspect.

Gardenhire didn't wait long to use Holm, who came off the bench Friday and started Saturday.

Gardenhire is mindful that the former MVP is coming back from a concussion and is watching him closely in his first month back after he missed half of last season while recovering.

Gardenhire, however, plans to rest Morneau during the Baltimore series next week.