Ponson's struggles continue

The Twins lost their fourth game in a row, and there's a chance the veteran righthander might have made his last start here.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: May 12, 2007 - 10:37 PM

The Detroit Tigers dominated the Twins on network television Saturday, with Minnesota turning in an embarrassing display of futility on the mound, in the field and at the plate.

The 8-2 loss at the Metrodome was the Twins' fourth in a row and eighth in 10 games, and there were more hints that changes could be coming.

Did Sidney Ponson make his final start for the Twins? Will they promote a player from Class AAA Rochester -- perhaps Matt Tolbert, the International League's leading hitter -- to spark their sluggish offense?

Those were legitimate questions, and while the answers weren't fully apparent, it was clear the Twins were doing some serious soul searching.

Ponson (2-5) lasted only four innings as Detroit jumped to a 6-0 lead before Glen Perkins held them to two runs in four innings of relief.

"[Ponson] didn't pitch good today," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Asked about the righthander's future, Gardenhire said: "As we do after every ballgame, we evaluate the starting pitching with everybody, and we go on from there."

Ponson, who gave up six hits and two walks, has now allowed 74 batters to reach base (54 hits, 17 walks, and three hit batters) in 372/3 innings.

This time, Ponson said he was missing his spots by "5, 6 inches."

Asked if he thinks about losing his job, he said, "If it happens, it happens. I'm not going to put more pressure on myself than there already is. The manager knows what he's doing."

The Twins have Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker and Matt Garza pitching well at Rochester. But rather than release Ponson, they could have him switch roles with Perkins.

Craig Monroe hit a two-run homer off Perkins in the fifth, but the rookie lefthander gave up only one hit over his final three innings.

"He threw the ball great," Gardenhire said. "It was the kind of game that can eat up your whole bullpen. ... We needed to stretch him out. ... We needed that, and he needed that."

Before the game, General Manager Terry Ryan echoed a comment Gardenhire made Friday, saying pitching was the least of the team's worries.

The offense has produced 19 runs in eight games as the Twins have gone 2-6 on this homestand.

Asked if a shakeup could be coming, Ryan said, "I'll let you know."

Special assistant Tom Kelly returned from a trip to Rochester and had long meetings with Gardenhire and Ryan before Saturday's game.

Tolbert, 25, is a switch hitter who has played primarily second base for Rochester. The Twins could use him as a reserve infielder and possibly a designated hitter. He went 2-for-4 Saturday, raising his average to .393.

He's not on the 40-man roster, but that won't be an issue if the Twins decide to release Ponson.

Gardenhire said he's been trying to tweak his lineup but added, "How many options do you have? ... You can move people around, but the pieces are what we have. ... We're still going to have to come up with a big hit."

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com

Recent Twins stories

Yankees top Phillies 7-3 for their 27th championship - May 12, 2007

Yankees top Phillies 7-3 for their 27th championship - Powered by Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBI, New York won a record 27th World Series crown. More