"You know how special it is," he said, "but I did not know there was only 18 perfect games in Major League Baseball history. It shows you how tough it is, how incredibly tough it is."

Baker said he received a several messages from friends after his gem, including a couple of buddies who couldn't believe he lost the no-no on a blooper by Mike Sweeney and not on a hard-hit ball.

Sweeney, by the way, was booed every time he batted Saturday.

Minor details

• Class AAA Rochester righthander Kevin Slowey, who will be called up to start Tuesday, gave up three runs over four innings Friday on seven hits, a walk and four strikeouts in a 10-7 loss to Buffalo. He threw 67 pitches.

• Rochester lost to Buffalo 6-5 on Saturday night, eliminating the Red Wings from International League playoff contention.

• Rookie league Elizabethton beat Danville 5-1 Friday to win the Appalachian League championship.

• Outfielder Eli Tintor, from Hibbing, was sent home recently from Class A Beloit for what Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz called "a distraction." He used the same word to describe why Class A Fort Myers third baseman Danny Valencia was benched in recent games.