Laffey lasts only one inning in Indians’ 9-4 loss to Royals

March 8, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

The Pirates and Twins were on a level playing field, tied 1-1 after five innings. Then Minnesota’s pitchers fell apart.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Aaron Laffey would love to follow in the footsteps of last year’s No. 5 starter for the Cleveland Indians.

The left-hander knows he’ll need better results than he got Saturday in a 9-4 exhibition loss to the Kansas City Royals to win the job.

Laffey allowed three runs and four hits, including a two-run double to John Buck, in one inning.

David DeJesus homered and finished with four RBIs for Kansas City, which also got home runs from Mike Jacobs and Ryan Shealy. Willie Bloomquist went 3-for-3.

Minor leaguer Beau Mills homered and Ben Francisco had two hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases for Cleveland.

“Besides the ball to Buck, I hit my spots,” Laffey said. “I left that one up and out and he extended his arms on it.”

A year ago, Laffey and Jeremy Sowers lost a spring battle for the No. 5 spot to Cliff Lee — who went on to a 22-3 record, 2.54 ERA and the AL Cy Young Award.

This year, Laffey is in a five-way scramble of lefties with Sowers, Zach Jackson, Scott Lewis and David Huff, a first-round pick in 2006 who is the only member of the quartet without big league experience.

Horacio Ramirez worked four innings for Kansas City, giving up one run and three hits.

Jackson yielded a run and two hits over three innings for Cleveland.

Twins’ Baker strikes out 4 after signing new deal

Pirates 10, Twins 1

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Scott Baker took the mound with some extra financial security.

The Twins’ opening day starter struck out four batters in four innings against Pittsburgh in his first spring appearance since signing a four-year contract worth $15.25 million, plus a $9.25 million club option for the 2013 season.

He gave up just one run in his four innings, a solo homer to Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche, during a 10-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

“My family and I love Minneapolis,” Baker said. “It’s a great place to be. This gives me some security. It gives me some certainty for later on.”

The contract bought out all of Baker’s salary arbitration-eligible seasons. Among fellow Twins starters Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey, Baker is the only one signed past this season.

The Pirates and Twins were tied at 1 until the sixth inning, when Twins reliever Matt Guerrier gave up a two-run double by second baseman Andy Phillips.

The Pirates scored four runs in the eighth off Twins reliever Ben Julianel.

Adam LaRoche went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Brother Andy LaRoche started at third base and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Phillips went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run.