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Seventh-inning wretch

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Twins starter Scott Baker was sailing along Sunday, throwing six hitless innings against the Royals. Then he gave up five hits in a row, which opened the floodgates for a Kansas City comeback.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 4, 2009 - 9:35 AM

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KANSAS CITY 7, TWINS 5

Up next: 6:05 p.m. today at Detroit • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

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Scott Baker lost another no-hit bid, Luis Ayala lost another lead, and the Twins lost another series Sunday, but there was a bigger-picture development going on at the Metrodome.

The Royals' five-run awakening in the seventh inning only left the Twins more convinced that Kansas City has built itself into a legitimate AL Central contender.

Trailing by four runs after getting held hitless for six innings, the Royals stormed back to defeat the Twins 7-5, and left town sitting atop the division.

The season is barely one-month old, but at 14-11, the Royals have something to build on after finishing no higher than third place every year since 1995.

"I think they're pretty good this year," Baker said. "It didn't seem like they ever gave up or ever gave in ... so we're kind of seeing a different team over there."

Joe Mauer went 7-for-10 in his first three games off the disabled list, but after winning Friday, the Twins lost two late-inning toss-ups, including Saturday's 11-inning marathon.

"Normally the Twins are the ones doing that to us," Royals catcher John Buck said. "I think this says a lot about our character."

The Twins didn't even face Zack Greinke, who enters his start against the White Sox tonight as the hottest pitcher in baseball at 5-0 with a 0.50 ERA.

"In the past, you were hoping for Zack to come in and have a good start because that was your chance for the week to get a win," Buck said. "That's obviously not the feel now."

Facing Gil Meche (2-2), the Twins felt fortunate to build a 4-0 lead by the sixth inning Sunday. They had stranded two runners on third base, but as manager Ron Gardenhire said, "When you've got a four-run lead, and the guy's throwing a no-hitter, I don't know how you could think anything's going to haunt you."

On Aug. 31, 2007, Baker came two outs from a no-hitter against these same Royals and settled for a one-hit shutout. This time, Baker (0-4) gladly would have settled for his first victory of the season.

Willie Bloomquist singled to start the seventh, ending the no-hit bid. Mark Teahen singled, and Jose Guillen drilled a three-run homer over the center-field wall. Baker had an 0-2 count on Guillen, but left a fastball within the batter's reach.

"I should have kept him honest," Baker said. "I should have come inside a little more. The pitch was up a little bit, but it was off the plate, so if he's honest and he's taking a swing that he normally would, he doesn't get to that pitch."

Mike Jacobs added a bloop single, and David DeJesus hit a bouncer through the hole between first and second before Gardenhire turned to Ayala.

The Twins were trying to give Matt Guerrier and Jose Mijares a break. Ayala has been trusted to protect close leads in three games this year and has failed every time, including Saturday.

This time, he delivered a meaty full-count pitch to Alberto Callaspo, who smacked the pitch into the left-center gap for a two-run double.

Kansas City scored two more runs off R.A. Dickey, and the Twins' ninth-inning comeback fell short as they fell to 12-13.

"They've got a good baseball team," Gardenhire said. "They've got some good guys out of the bullpen. They made some good moves and picked up some veterans to help out, and they've got a good young baseball team. They get after it. We saw that at the end of last year, and they continue to get better."

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