Ponson's uncertain future looks better after Twins win

Scott Audette, Associated Press

Minnesota's Jason Tyner dives into third base in front of Tampa Bay shortstop Brendan Harris while advancing on a throwing error by pitcher Edwin Jackson during the second inning of Tuesday's game.

The righthander was running out of time to make an impression as a starter, but he held Tampa Bay to one earned run on five hits in a seven-inning stint.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: May 1, 2007 - 11:27 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - Sometime soon, Twins pitcher Sidney Ponson will receive a World Series championship ring for his contributions last season to the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis released him last July, but not before he made 13 starts, and it's baseball custom to present rings to everyone who plays a part in a championship.

Last weekend, during a quiet moment in the Twins clubhouse, Ponson spoke proudly of the ring that's coming and added, "We're going to get one for this team, too."

It was a bold comment made by someone who knows his place on the team is tenuous. But Ponson moved the Twins a tiny step closer to the goal Tuesday night, pitching seven innings in their 9-1 victory over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

The Twins jumped to a 6-0 lead by the second inning, capitalizing on some shoddy Tampa Bay defense and the continued struggles of Devil Rays starter Edwin Jackson (0-4).

Luis Castillo and Joe Mauer each had three hits and the Twins finished with 17, matching their season high set Saturday in Detroit.

Ponson (2-3) took the mound for what could have become his last start as a Twin and lowered his ERA to 6.67, from 8.44.

With Scott Baker, Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey dominating for Class AAA Rochester, and Glen Perkins in the bullpen, the Twins have four pitchers lined up to take Ponson's place. Before the game, manager Ron Gardenhire hinted at the urgency for Ponson.

"We don't have patience up here," Gardenhire said. 'We have to win up here. We have to have patience with young pitchers. Up here, we need guys to get outs. ... We expect [Ponson] to do good. He's had five starts now, and ... we need him to start shutting people down, leaving ballgames [ahead] 6-2 instead of 5-5 or 5-4."

This one wasn't a thing of beauty. Handed that six-run, second-inning lead, Ponson promptly gave up a 448-foot home run by Delmon Young.

When Ponson walked Elijah Dukes in the third, his season totals were getting uglier. At that point, he had faced 116 batters and allowed 51 to reach base. That's a .439 on-base percentage, meaning Ponson was turning every hitter into the equivalent of Joe Mauer.

The next two Tampa Bay batters flew out to the warning track, making it three warning track outs in the first three innings.

Ponson wasn't fooling anybody, but then he seemed to flip a switch. He wound up retiring the final nine batters he faced and 14 of the final 16.

"We were excited about his adjustment during the game more than anything else," Gardenhire said. "He gave up some long flies and stuff like that, but once he got on top of it, the last couple innings were great."

Ponson had thrown 90 pitches when Gardenhire pulled him after the seventh inning. Ponson was on a roll, but with an eye on the future, he didn't mind the hook.

"It's still early in the year," Ponson said. "The fresher I stay for August, September, the better."

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com