BOSTON -- The rain didn't roll in until Scott Baker's day was nearly over, but for the right-hander the downpour of hits began shortly after the first pitch this afternoon.
Making his second start of the season and trying to shed the four-inning, four-home run outing he fumbled through last week, Baker's attempt was again muddled by pitches that started high in the zone and ended up over the fences in Minnesota's 10-1 rain-shortened loss to Boston in Game one of this planned day-night doubleheader. Rain started coming down in the fifth inning, with weather reports suggesting it will continue off and on throughout the night. With one out in the bottom of the seventh and Boston runners on second and third, umpires delayed the first game and then canceled it shortly after 3 p.m. CDT. Game two is still scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m.
The Red Sox battered Baker for three two-run home runs in the first three innings, and Minnesota's starter only lasted for 4 2/3. He gave up 10 hits and six runs and now has allowed seven home runs in 8 2/3 innings this season.
Up against Tim Wakefield, Minnesota's offense couldn't make up for Baker's shortcomings. One start after flirting with the first no-hitter of his career, Wakefield held the Twins to one run on five hits in seven innings.
With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Justin Morneau drove in Minnesota's only run against Boston's knuckleballer with a single to right field. But with the bags still full, Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer both popped out to first base to strand all three runners.
Baker's brief time on the mound left Twins manager Ron Gardenhire dipping into his bullpen early on a day that, if it proceeds as scheduled, already threatened to tire out his team.
Craig Breslow pitched a scoreless four-out stretch, and then came Juan Morillo's second outing as a Twin . The hard-throwing right-hander gave up a double off the Green Monster to David Ortiz, then walked his next three batters, allowing Ortiz to stroll home to make it 7-1. R.A. Dickey offered up two hits that finished Morillo's disheartening pitching line -- one hit, three walks, four runs, no outs.
