Postgame: Scott Baker pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings before Glen Perkins and Matt Capps came in to finish up and give the Twins a 1-0 victory Wednesday afternoon.
Baker shuts down Dodgers
Scott Baker pitched a shutout into the eighth inning and struck out nine. The Twins scored in the first and made the lead hold up.
June 29, 2011 at 8:16PM
The Twins scored in the first inning when Ben Revere led off with a triple to right-center field and came home on a weak grounder by Tsuyoshi Nishioka.
It was the seventh 1-0 game the Twins have played this season, with Minnesota winning five of them.
More details later at startribune.com.
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The Twins and Dodgers will be playing the rubber game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field, and once again, this has the feel of an emotional swing game.
A win would help the Twins distance themselves from their six-game losing streak with an off day Thursday before the Brewers come to town.
Scott Baker, whose 3.39 ERA is the lowest among Twins starters, will be on the mound, and the Dodgers are countering with Rubby De La Rosa. His fastball averages 96 miles per hour, but he is 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in his past two starts.
Update: Alexi Casilla has a sore thumb and a stiff back, so he's not in the starting lineup but is available off the bench, Manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gardenhire hopes Casilla is ready to start again Friday against Milwaukee.
Gardenhire mentioned De La Rosa's reverse splits (righties are batting .357 against him, and lefties are batting .200) in explaining his decision to start Jason Repko over Rene Tosoni in LF.
Denard Span continues to make progress and could be ready to take batting practice on the field this weekend, trainer Rick McWane said.
DODGERS (36-45)
1. Tony Gwynn Jr., LF
2. Casey Blake, 3B
3. Andre Ethier, RF
4. Matt Kemp, CF
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Juan Uribe, 2B
7. Marcus Thames, DH
8. Dioner Navarro, C
9. Dee Gordon, SS
Starting pitcher: RH Rubby De La Rosa (3-2, 5.26 ERA)
TWINS (33-45)
1. Ben Revere, CF
2. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Jim Thome, DH
6. Danny Valencia, 3B
7. Luke Hughes, 1B
8. Jason Repko, LF
9. Matt Tolbert, 2B
Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker (5-5, 3.39 ERA)
Target Field. First pitch: 12:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.
