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Buscher, Twins batter Indians

Jul 27, 2008 - 3:46 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Scott Baker was happy he got the win but felt he could have done better.

Brian Buscher drove in a career-high five runs and the Minnesota Twins knocked around Fausto Carmona to snap their five-game losing streak with an 11-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

The Twins needed the win, not only to get back on the winning track but to keep pace with the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central race.

Minnesota, which was within one-half game of Chicago when the skid began on July 19, remained 3 1/2 games behind the division leaders.

"We haven't been able to shake hands (after a game) for a while," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "This was a nice win for us."

Baker got the run support that was lacking in his last start, struggling through five innings and allowing three runs, but the Twins' offense picked him up.

"It was one of those outings, where you know what you are doing wrong, but you can't make the correction," Baker said. "It was a battle. It worked out, but I would have liked to have done better."

In his previous outing against Texas, Baker (7-3) pitched allowed only one run on two hits, but picked up the tough-luck loss as Minnesota was shut out. It was the third time this season that Baker had been on the losing end of a 1-0 game.

"It tends to even out," Baker said. "That's the way it goes."

It evened out quickly as the Twins' offense took the pressure off Baker by greeting Carmona, who was activated off the disabled list prior to the game, with a six-run first - highlighted by Buscher's three-run homer.

"It takes some pressure off when you score six runs in the first," Gardenhire said.

Carmona, who was making his first start since injuring his right hip on May 23, walked three of the first four batters to load the bases. Jason Kubel singled home a run and Delmon Young followed with a two-run single to give the Twins a 3-0 advantage.

Buscher, who finished the night with three hits, put an exclamation point on the first with his two-out homer. Buscher blasted Carmona's 1-2 offering deep into the right field seats for his third home run of the season.

"I think (Carmona) was geared up," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "He was really rushing out there early on and had trouble gearing down."

Buscher drove in two more runs with an RBI single as part of the Twins' three-run third.

"We need production from up and down the lineup," Gardenhire said.

Carmona (4-2) missed more than two months after straining his right hip against Texas. The young righthander, who won 19 games last season, allowed a career-high nine runs eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings.

"It felt good that I didn't have any pain," said Carmona through an interpreter. "It doesn't feel good because of the outcome. But for my health I feel good about it. I feel like I am ready to go back."

Minnesota tacked on two more runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Joe Mauer and Kubel's sacrifice fly.

Andy Marte homered and Jhonny Peralta drove in two runs for Cleveland, who lost for the fourth time in their last 12 games.