Scott Baker hadn't earned a major-league win since July 2011, but on Tuesday night, on three days rest against his former team, he pitched well enough on short notice to get one.
Baker gave up two runs and three base-runners in six innings of work and didn't even need 90 pitches to do so. It was a pretty stellar outing considering how poorly he pitched just a few days earlier in Detroit. But odd things happen from time to time in baseball, and Baker saw some misfortune late in the game after he was long gone that prevented the Rangers from winning the game.
Baker could be a nice option for the Rangers' new makeshift starting rotation, minus Matt Harrison and Martin Perez, at least until Derek Holland makes his season debut hopefully within the next month.
In the third inning, Baker gave up a double to Joe Mauer and then retired the next 10 hitters he faced, including a looking strikeout to the final batter he faced in the sixth inning. It was a great way to end a surprisingly good start from the former Tommy John patient, it's just too bad he didn't see the reward at the end of the night.
