Baker's bubble is popped again

The pitcher's season took another setback-- this time, against the team he beat in his 2007 debut.

By Joe Christensen, Star Tribune

Last update: June 16, 2007 - 11:04 PM

Remember the terrific 2007 debut for Twins pitcher Scott Baker last month against the Milwaukee Brewers?

Well, it's been a long four weeks. At the rate Baker is going now, top prospect Matt Garza might soon take his place.

Baker hasn't won a decision since his May 19 start in Milwaukee, and facing those same Brewers on Friday at the Metrodome, he got shelled for six runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Milwaukee also blistered Ramon Ortiz for five runs on the way to an 11-3 victory that snapped the Twins' four-game winning streak.

When Geoff Jenkins connected for a fourth-inning grand slam against Baker, it gave the Brewers a 4-1 lead and seemed to drain all the momentum the Twins generated with their dramatic, 3-2 victory over Atlanta on Thursday.

"It all goes to your starting pitching," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That's your momentum swing."

Gardenhire yanked Baker after Bill Hall's two-run double made it 6-1 in the fifth.

The Twins chipped away with home runs from Jason Kubel (No. 5) and Justin Morneau (No. 19), but Prince Fielder hit his National League-leading 24th home run off Ortiz in the seventh, and the Brewers pulled away for their third consecutive victory.

Baker (1-2), who had stints with the Twins in 2005 and 2006, has teased them with his promise again.

In his first start, he held the Brewers to two runs in 8 1/3 innings, for a 5-2 victory. But in four starts since, Baker has posted a 9.64 ERA, allowing 20 earned runs and 30 hits in 18 2/3 innings.

Asked how patient the team can afford to be with Baker, Gardenhire said, "Well, we've pretty much run through our system here. We don't have that many options. We have Garza down there, who we think is getting pretty close, and guys like that. So we'll have to sit back and think about it and run [Baker] back out there and go from there."

It sounds like Baker will get at least one more start. His next one is scheduled for Wednesday against the Mets at Shea Stadium.

Baker was skipped the last time through the rotation, but he refused to blame his performance on the extra rest.

"You know what? It doesn't matter because nobody cares," he said. "It's not like you're going to go up to the opposing team and say, 'You know what? I might not be sharp today because I've had a few days off.' "

Baker, who walked one and struck out six, allowed seven hits. Ortiz allowed eight in his 4 1/3 innings.

"It's more frustrating when you feel like you're throwing well, and it's a couple mistakes that beat you," Baker said.

But pitching coach Rick Anderson identified one fundamental flaw: Baker threw only 11 of 23 first-pitch strikes.

"If you're pitching behind, it's pretty tough," Anderson said. "Then, the ability to execute a pitch and put a hitter away. ... There's just too many inconsistencies with his pitches."

Joe Christensen • jchristensen@startribune.com