Too Cool for School

How awesome is Scott Baker? Awesome enough to strikeout four batters in a single inning.

Okay, I don't know how cool that is, but it's kinda rare. The 26-year-old righty fanned four Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning of Sunday’s 4-2 loss, becoming the first Minnesota Twins pitcher in history to do so.

Baker, who struck out a total of nine in the game, kicked off the third by getting Ryan Braun swinging before Prince Fielder whiffed, but the ball got away from catcher Mike Redmond to award Fielder first base. He then struck out Russell Branyan and Mike Cameron -- both looking -- on three pitches apiece to end the inning.

The last pitcher to get four Ks in an inning was Los Angeles Dodgers righty Brad Penny in 2006 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Over-achievers.

[Twinkie Town]

Travis Hafner is a Monster, Tribe Wins Again

After beating Johan Santana for the fifth time this season on Monday, Travis Hafner and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Minnesota Twins for the 13th time (out of 17 games) to pad their AL Central lead to 7 games over the Detroit Tigers and 11.5 ahead of the Twins.

Aaron Laffey lasted just four innings for Cleveland, allowing five runs and six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Four relievers combined for five scoreless innings after him, including Rafael Betancourt for the win and Joe Borowski with the save.

Kevin Slowey pitched five innings for the Twins, giving up 2 runs -- 1 earned -- on five hits with three strikeouts. Six different relievers followed him, with Joe Nathan getting the blown save and Julio DePaula earning the loss.

Hafner nailed a solo shot in the first inning and Kenny Lofton scored on a fielding error in the second, but Jason Kubel got one back in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double for Minnesota. Justin Morneau nailed a three-run two-bagger in the third to give the Twins a 4-2 lead before Luis Rodriguez drove in the fifth run on a single to center the following inning.