Twins pitcher Scott Baker will meet with the team's medical staff Tuesday to decide whether he should return to the disabled list because of a sore elbow, a decision that shouldn't be tough.
The team's playoff hopes have all but vanished, and even when their offense thrives, as it did Monday against the Red Sox, the Twins still have trouble matching up with the American League's best.
The Red Sox overcame a four-run deficit against Baker and withstood a late counterpunch from the Twins before another big hit from David Ortiz lifted Boston to an 8-6 victory at Target Field.
"As a manager, you're looking for a competitive team that goes out there and battles; tonight we did that," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We lost to a very good baseball team, but from [Sunday's 7-0 loss against Chicago] to today was night and day."
The Twins have lost five consecutive games and eight of their past nine. Forget the first-place Tigers. The Twins are clinging to a two-game lead over the last-place Royals.
Baker had a 5-1 lead in the sixth, but Boston scored four runs to tie it that inning with back-to-back homers by Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Baker, who was on the DL with a strained flexor muscle last month, said the surgically repaired elbow is troubling him in that same area.
He's having a hard time getting loose, and his velocity is down. Baker is 8-6 and has seen his ERA rise from 2.86 to 3.21 in his past two starts.
"I have no problem pitching with some discomfort as long as it's something that's not going to get worse," Baker said. "I'm OK being a little sore, but if you're not effective because of it, then that's a different story."
