Twins’ Baker roughed up in return to mound

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Scott Baker struggled in his return to the mound on Monday for the Minnesota Twins.

He allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings, giving up a grand slam to Ben Zobrist and a two-run homer to Elliot Johnson, in a 10-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is waiting for Baker, who has been dealing with tendinitis in his pitching elbow, to find his 2011 form.

“Our starting pitcher put us in a hole today,” Gardenhire said. “He got his work in, yes. But we chased the ball all over the field and spent eight hours in the first three innings out there.

“That ain’t good enough. He’s got to pick up the pace and get going now. He says his arm’s fine, everything’s good. Well then let’s go.”

The injury has been a concern for Baker, who had a strained pitching elbow last year.

The time off delayed his preparation for the season and created doubt on whether he’d be ready to start the home opener April 9 against the Angels.

“We’ve got a long season,” Baker said. “To sit here and say that’s the most important thing, to make that home opener start, that’s just not the case. Obviously I’d love to make that start, but if I can’t, I can’t.

“It’s like you need to allow things to happen, instead of create velocity, create movement, and basically trust in your stuff and trust in your ability to make pitches,” Baker said.

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