Baker cooks up fine start, win for Twins

The Twins had to win this first game in the series against the White Sox, and they did, 9-3.

You have to spotlight three players. First Scott Baker, who allowed five hits and a run in seven innings to improve his record to 10-4. He's our No. 2 pitcher behind Francisco Liriano, and he pitched as well Tuesday as Liriano did Sunday against the Rays.

But then you look past the usual suspects, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Oh, Morneau had an RBI to raise his league-leading total to 129.

Think a minute. Many teams don't want to give Morneau anything to hit. He and Mauer both get tons of walks.

Mauer bats third, Morneau fourth. The fifth and sixth batters in the lineup have to come through. They did Tuesday.

Jason Kubel had one of his best games of the year, going three for four with two homers, a triple, three runs and three RBIs. Batting right behind him, Delmon Young went three for three with two runs and two RBIs.

Notes: Morneau set a Twins record with his 47th double.

Nick Punto and Carlos Gomez also had strong games. Punto went two for four with a run and an RBI and Gomez went two for four with an RBI.

The Twins beat Javier Vasquez, who had been great against Minnesota. You have to wonder if it helped the Sox that manager Ozzie Guillen called out Vasquez. I guess I didn't much see the point.

Guillen's a seat-of-the pants kind of guy. Reporters love that because he's always good for a lively quote. But maybe his act wears thin sometimes.

Nick Blackburn faces Mark Buehrle on Wednesday. That worries me. I liked the Baker-Vasquez matchup, but Blackburn's been shaky of late.

In the third game, Kevin Slowey faces Gavin Floyd. The pitchers' records favor Floyd, but it is in the Metrodome.  The young Twins rotation has been much better at home.