GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (28-28) at LA ANGELS (37-22)

AL: MINNESOTA (28-28) at LA ANGELS (37-22)

<h3>Baker goes again for Twins</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (28-28) at LA Angels (37-22) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - After a promising first start in</div>2007, Minnesota Twins righthander Scott Baker has not been sostrong lately.

Baker takes to the mound for his fourth start of the season onTuesday when the Twins visit the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The 25-year-old Baker (1-0, 5.94 ERA) has had stints in each ofthe past three seasons with Minnesota, with varying degrees ofsuccess.

After going 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA in a late-season stint in 2005,Baker struggled with regular big-league work last season,getting sent back down to Class AAA Rochester after going 2-5with a 6.06 ERA in the first two months.

He picked up a win on May 19 at Milwaukee with 8 1/3 innings ofone-run ball. He has yielded nine runs in 8 1/3 innings in twono-decisions since.

The Angels will counter with Kelvim Escobar (6-3, 3.00). Theveteran righthander is coming off a sub-par outing of his ownlast Thursday against the Orioles in which he surrendered fiveruns and nine hits in an eight-inning loss.

The Twins have been no picnic for the 31-year-old Venezuelan. Heowns just a 4-6 mark with a 5.59 ERA in 15 games - eight starts- against Minnesota.

The Angels improved on their major-league best 23-8 home recordwith a 16-3 victory in the first game of the series on Monday.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT LA ANGELS -- LINEUPS

MINNESOTA LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Luis Castillo 2B .337 0 8 Reggie Willits LF .324 0 12
Jason Tyner DH .255 0 11 Orlando Cabrera SS .329 3 29
Michael Cuddyer RF .294 7 38 Vladimir Guerrero RF .357 12 50
Justin Morneau 1B .282 16 44 Gary Matthews Jr CF .296 8 38
Torii Hunter CF .306 12 46 Garret Anderson DH .252 2 11
Jason Kubel LF .247 3 18 Casey Kotchman 1B .309 6 27
Chris Heintz C .250 0 4 Howie Kendrick 2B .237 2 6
Luis Rodriguez 3B .209 1 5 Jose Molina C .232 0 1
Jason Bartlett SS .242 0 10 Chone Figgins 3B .209 1 9

Scott Baker RHP (1-0, 5.94) Kelvim Escobar RHP (6-3, 3.00)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER (1-0, 5.94)
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR (6-3, 3.00)

UMPIRES: HP - GERRY DAVIS
1B - MIKE EVERITT
2B - PAUL NAUERT
3B - BRIAN GORMAN

WEATHER: 70 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 8 mph, out to center</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND CHRIS HEINTZ
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR AND JOSE MOLINA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.337, 0 HR, 8 RBI)
J TYNER (.255, 0 HR, 11 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.294, 7 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.324, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
O CABRERA (.329, 3 HR, 29 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.357, 12 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .337
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 1.



LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
G Anderson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.94

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.96

Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 2-1.
Batters faced: K Escobar 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
VLADIMIR GUERRERO HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING REGGIE
WILLITS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.296, 8 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.306, 12 HR, 46 RBI)
J KUBEL (.247, 3 HR, 18 RBI)
C HEINTZ (.250, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .337
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. Team LOB - 1.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Bartlett-L Castillo-J Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .324
O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .332
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .355
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296
G Anderson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 3 1 1 0 2 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - V Guerrero. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 6.11

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.96

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 15-7; K Escobar 22-13. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 2-1; K Escobar 2-1. Batters faced: S Baker 5; K Escobar 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 1 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C KOTCHMAN (.309, 6 HR, 27 RBI)
H KENDRICK (.237, 2 HR, 6 RBI)
J MOLINA (.232, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .337
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 5 0 0 0 2 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. GIDP - J Kubel.
Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Bartlett-L Castillo-J Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .324
O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .332
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .355
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296
G Anderson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237
J Molina c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 3 1 1 0 2 0 2

BATTING: GIDP - V Guerrero. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - V Guerrero (4, dropped foul ball). DP: 1 (H Kendrick-O
Cabrera-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 6.11

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 2.91

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 15-7; K Escobar 32-19. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 2-1; K Escobar 4-1. Batters faced: S Baker 5; K Escobar 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 0 1 1 1 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L RODRIGUEZ (.209, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.242, 0 HR, 10 RBI)
L CASTILLO (.337, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .337
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
L Rodriguez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242

Totals 5 0 0 0 2 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. GIDP - J Kubel.
Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Bartlett-L Castillo-J Morneau, L Rodriguez-L Castillo-J
Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .324
O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .332
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .355
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296
G Anderson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 5 1 1 0 3 1 3

BATTING: GIDP - V Guerrero, H Kendrick. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - V Guerrero (4, dropped foul ball). DP: 1 (H Kendrick-O
Cabrera-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 5.79

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 2.91

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 27-13; K Escobar 32-19. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 4-1; K Escobar 4-1. Batters faced: S Baker 8; K Escobar 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 0 1 1 1 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: C FIGGINS (.209, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
R WILLITS (.324, 0-FOR-0, BB)
O CABRERA (.332, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .335
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .206
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 8 0 0 0 2 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. GIDP - J Kubel.
Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Bartlett-L Castillo-J Morneau, L Rodriguez-L Castillo-J
Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .324
O Cabrera ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .332
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .355
G Matthews Jr cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296
G Anderson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 5 1 1 0 3 1 3

BATTING: GIDP - V Guerrero, H Kendrick. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: E - V Guerrero (4, dropped foul ball). DP: 1 (H Kendrick-O
Cabrera-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 5.79

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.87

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 27-13; K Escobar 41-27. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 4-1; K Escobar 5-2. Batters faced: S Baker 8; K Escobar 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VLADIMIR GUERRERO SCORED REGGIE WILLITS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V GUERRERO ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.296, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 0 1 2 3 1 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.253, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.293, 0-FOR-1)
J MORNEAU (.281, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (0) VS LA ANGELS (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .335
J Tyner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .281
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .306
J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .245
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .206
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 8 0 0 0 2 2 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1. GIDP - J Kubel.
Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Bartlett-L Castillo-J Morneau, L Rodriguez-L Castillo-J
Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Willits lf 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 .329
O Cabrera ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .330
V Guerrero rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .359
G Matthews Jr cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .295
G Anderson dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .309
H Kendrick 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234
J Molina c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .229
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207

Totals 10 2 3 1 3 1 4

BATTING: RBI - V Guerrero (51). 2-out RBI - V Guerrero. GIDP - V Guerrero, H
Kendrick. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Willits (14, 2nd base off S Baker/C Heintz).

FIELDING: E - V Guerrero (4, dropped foul ball). DP: 1 (H Kendrick-O
Cabrera-C Kotchman).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 101 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 3 2 2 3 1 0 5.95

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 3 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.87

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 36-19; K Escobar 41-27. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 5-3; K Escobar 5-2. Batters faced: S Baker 13; K Escobar 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Brian
Gorman.

Weather: 70 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to center.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 1 0 1 2 3 1 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.250, 0-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.309, 0-FOR-0, BB)
H KENDRICK (.234, 0-FOR-1)</div>