May 18, 2008 11:32 AM

Baker plays again; lineups for May 18

Jeff Baker gets his season-high fourth straight start at second base and his fifth in the past six games. Overall, this will be Baker's ninth start this season at second.

Baker has gone 3-for-10 with two doubles in the past three games, and manager Clint Hurdle said he's "at the top of the pecking order" right now, over Omar Quintanilla and Jonathan Herrera in part because of Hurdle's quest to get Baker at-bats.

"What better time now, we're playing like we're playing," Hurdle said. "This isn't to take anything away from anybody, but it's an opportunity to get him out there, get him at-bats and see where he can take it."

Hurdle praised Baker for his defense at second base and said, "At the end of the season, we've got to have some questions answered about Jeff. And the bat being the biggest one."

Jeff Francis will be seeking his first win in nine starts and will face Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, a fellow Canadian, for the first time _ anywhere. They played on different summer teams in British Columbia in the 10th grade and Morneau, who began his professional career as a catcher, caught Francis on the North Delta Blue Jays in the 11th and 12th grades. Both players are 27 with Francis four months older than Morneau.

Delmon Young, who will bat second for the first time this year for the Twins, is 9-for-20 in five career games at Coors Field with two doubles, one homer and one RBI.

Third baseman Howie Clark, who has played for Baltimore and Toronto, will make his 2008 debut for the Twins after just being brought up from Triple-A Rochester.

The lineups

Rockies
CF Taveras
SS Barmes
LF Holliday
1B Helton (L)
3B Atkins
RF Hawpe (L)
2B Baker
C Iannetta
LHP Francis (L)

Twins
2B Harris
LF Young
CF Monroe
1B Morneau (L)
RF Cuddyer
C Redmond
3B Clark (L)
SS Everett
RHP Slowey

--Jack Etkin

Posted by Jack Etkin at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)