BRADENTON, FLA. – Craig Monroe hit three home runs, including two off Scott Baker, leading Pittsburgh to a 6-4 victory over the Twins today at McKechnie Field.

Monroe, released by the Twins last season, now has five home runs for the spring.

“He’s always been a Twins killer,” Baker said. “I don’t know why that would change.”

Baker gave up four home runs in four innings, all with the bases empty. Three of them came in the third inning, long blasts by Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit and Monroe.

Baker, the Twins’ Opening Day starter, needed 70 pitches to get through four innings.

“Bake wasn’t able to get his breaking ball over, and now it’s fastballs,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “When you have to do that to major league hitters, you’re going to get hit, so that’s the story.”

Note: Nick Punto didn’t have more X-rays taken. His X-rays from Tuesday were saved on a CD in his car, and he simply had to get them for the Twins’ medical staff to review. The Twins expect Punto to miss a couple days, allowing the swelling in his right arm to subside, and then return to shortstop.

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