GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (58-56) at LA ANGELS (66-47)

AL: MINNESOTA (58-56) at LA ANGELS (66-47)

<h3>Baker, Twins look for better results, face Angels</h3>



Minnesota (58-56) at La Angels (66-47), 10:05 pm EDT

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) - Just like Scott Baker has hisstruggles against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, hisMinnesota Twins have recently been below par on the road.

Baker and the Twins hope to gain ground in the playoff race whenthey open a three-game series against the Angels on Friday.

Minnesota dropped a 1-0 decision to the lowly Royals on Thursdayto fall to 3-8 in its last 11 road games. The loss left theTwins 6 1/2 games behind the first place Cleveland Indians andsix games behind the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race.

Baker (6-4, 4.43 ERA), who has won his last two starts, looksfor his first career win against the Angels. The righthander is0-4 with a 6.64 ERA in four starts against Anaheim.

However, if Baker pitches like his last two outings, he shouldbe fine. Baker, 25, has yielded only one run and six hits inhis last 16 innings. He scattered four hits in eight innings ina 1-0 victory over Cleveland on Sunday.


The American League West-leading Angels counter with KelvimEscobar (11-6, 2.79), who has dropped three consecutive starts.The losing streak is not all of his fault as the 6-1, 230-poundEscobar has received only two runs of support in the threelosses.


It is his longest skid since he dropped a career-high fivestraight from May 17-June 9, 2006.


Escobar is trying to win 12 games in a season for the first timesince 2003 when he was with Toronto.


Anaheim has won three of four and maintains a 2 1/2-game leadover the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA LA ANGELS
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alexi Casilla 2B .250 0 5 Chone Figgins 3B .340 1 41
Jason Bartlett SS .260 3 27 Orlando Cabrera SS .303 7 65
Joe Mauer C .297 5 49 Vladimir Guerrero RF .329 18 90
Michael Cuddyer RF .284 11 61 Garret Anderson LF .285 6 35
Justin Morneau 1B .287 28 89 Gary Matthews Jr DH .274 14 65
Torii Hunter CF .294 23 79 Casey Kotchman 1B .304 9 52
Jason Kubel DH .248 9 44 Maicer Izturis 2B .266 3 27
Rondell White LF .143 0 2 Jeff Mathis C .203 0 5
Nick Punto 3B .210 1 20 Reggie Willits CF .304 0 30

Scott Baker RHP (6-4, 4.43) Kelvim Escobar RHP (11-6, 2.79)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
WARMUPS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER (6-4, 4.43)
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR (11-6, 2.79)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE DRECKMAN
1B - GARY DARLING
2B - LARRY PONCINO
3B - JERRY MEALS

WEATHER: 76 Degrees, clear
WIND: 7 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS
STARTING BATS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND JOE MAUER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR AND JEFF MATHIS

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.250, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.260, 3 HR, 27 RBI)
J MAUER (.297, 5 HR, 49 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: C FIGGINS (.340, 1 HR, 41 RBI)
O CABRERA (.303, 7 HR, 65 RBI)
V GUERRERO (.329, 18 HR, 90 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
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340
O Cabrera ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303
V Guerrero rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

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 4.43

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.77

Pitches-strikes: K Escobar 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: K Escobar 2-1.
Batters faced: K Escobar 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</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
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.287, 28 HR, 89 RBI)
T HUNTER (.294, 23 HR, 79 RBI)
J KUBEL (.248, 9 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.38

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.77

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 11-8; K Escobar 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 0-2; K Escobar 2-1. Batters faced: S Baker 3; K Escobar 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</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 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.285, 6 HR, 35 RBI)
G MATTHEWS JR (.274, 14 HR, 65 RBI)
C KOTCHMAN (.304, 9 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
G Matthews Jr dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Kotchman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.38

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.76

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 11-8; K Escobar 27-18. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 0-2; K Escobar 3-2. Batters faced: S Baker 3; K Escobar 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</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 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: R WHITE (.143, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
N PUNTO (.210, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
A CASILLA (.247, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3

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


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

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.33

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.76

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 28-19; K Escobar 27-18. Ground balls-fly balls: S
Baker 1-3; K Escobar 3-2. Batters faced: S Baker 8; K Escobar 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</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 1 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: R WILLITS (.304, 0 HR, 30 RBI)
C FIGGINS (.339, 0-FOR-1)
O CABRERA (.302, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

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

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .282
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 10 0 1 0 3 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 2. Team LOB - 4.



LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .339
O Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
V Guerrero rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
G Anderson lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
R Willits cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304

Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3

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


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.33

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 3 1 0 0 3 1 0 2.74

WP - K Escobar. IBB - J Mauer (by K Escobar). Pitches-strikes: S Baker 28-19;
K Escobar 46-27. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker 1-3; K Escobar 4-4. Batters
faced: S Baker 8; K Escobar 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ORLANDO CABRERA SCORED REGGIE WILLITS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, O CABRERA ON FIRST, C FIGGINS ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: V GUERRERO (.328, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at LA ANGELS

<div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
VLADIMIR GUERRERO HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING CHONE
FIGGINS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
LA ANGELS 2 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G ANDERSON (.283, 0-FOR-1)</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 1 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 2 2 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.286, 0-FOR-1)
T HUNTER (.293, 0-FOR-1)
J KUBEL (.247, 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
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
J Bartlett ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .261
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .297
M Cuddyer rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .282
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .286
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .139
N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 10 0 1 0 3 1 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 2. Team LOB - 4.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Bartlett-A Casilla-J Morneau).


LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .341
O Cabrera ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .304
V Guerrero rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .328
G Anderson lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
G Matthews Jr dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .276
C Kotchman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303
M Izturis 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .266
J Mathis c 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .200
R Willits cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .304

Totals 11 2 3 1 2 2 4

BATTING: RBI - O Cabrera (66). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J
Mathis 1. GIDP - V Guerrero. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 000 -- 0
LA ANGELS - 002 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 3 2 2 2 2 0 4.48

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Escobar 3 1 0 0 3 1 0 2.74

WP - K Escobar. IBB - J Mauer (by K Escobar). Pitches-strikes: S Baker 44-29;
K Escobar 46-27. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker 3-4; K Escobar 4-4. Batters
faced: S Baker 13; K Escobar 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Gary Darling. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to right.</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 2 0
LA ANGELS 0 0 2 2 3 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - SCOTT BAKER
LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR

DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: G MATTHEWS JR (.276, 1-FOR-1)
C KOTCHMAN (.303, 0-FOR-1)
M IZTURIS (.266, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>