FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Scott Baker proclaimed himself ready to rejoin the Minnesota Twins' starting rotation after earning a win for Class A Fort Myers on Friday night.
Baker, placed on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his right shoulder, stuck out three, walked one and gave up one run off five hits in seven innings.The Miracle defeated the Charlotte Stone Crabs, the new affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-1 in front of an opening night, record crowd of 8,310 at Hammond Stadium.
"I was just throwing strikes," Baker said. "I approached it more like a spring training game. I threw all of my pitches, which was good. I tried to mix them all in. That's what we do during spring training to get ready for the season."
Baker is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday and could start as soon as Wednesday at the Metrodome against Toronto, but he had not received word yet on the Twins' plans.
"I'm not sure what the exact numbers were for balls and strikes," said Miracle manager Jeff Smith, "but I know it was a lot of strikes and few balls."
Baker threw 70 pitches, 51 of them for strikes.
Hitters included Rays outfielder B.J. Upton, who led off in the designated hitter's slot.
Upton, who had offseason surgery on his left shoulder, struck out swinging against Baker in the first inning, singled in the third and drew a walk in the sixth. He said he expected to rejoin the Rays on Monday.
