Durbin placed on DL

NEW BRITAIN -- Ace right-hander J.D. Durbin has been placed on the seven-day disabled list due to a shoulder injury, the Rock Cats announced Sunday.

Durbin, 22, has been bothered by what the Rock Cats think is a nagging case of tendinitis and was waiting for the results of an MRI. He said Saturday that he felt fine and the move was mostly precautionary.

"If it’s not anything with the rotator cuff or labrum then we’re fine," manager Stan Cliburn said. "He has thrown on the side; he’s thrown long toss on the side; he’s pitched through the soreness and thrown the ball 97 miles an hour. You usually don’t have a rotator cuff when you throw the ball 97 miles per hour."

He will be replaced on the roster by righty Scott Baker, who was 4-2 for Class-A Fort Myers in seven starts with a 2.40 ERA, eighth best in the Florida State League. Baker, who arrived in town Sunday afternoon, is slated to start the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Portland Sea Dogs.

Durbin, who was touted as a possible fifth starter for the Minnesota Twins in spring training, is on the Twins 40-man roster. He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six starts this season.

Baker, 22, was the Twins’ second-round draft last June out of Oklahoma State. In 95 2/3 professional innings, he has allowed only 14 walks and struck out 84. He has allowed just five homers in his professional career, which is good news to a staff that’s coughed up 12 gopher balls in the last six games.

The Shreveport, La., native was 3-1 with a 2.49 ERA for Quad City in the low-A Midwest League last year. In 50 2/3 innings, he yielded 45 hits, walked eight and struck out 47.

Baker, who compiled a 22-10 record in three years of college ball, was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star team in 2002.

Rock Cat Briefs

Garrett Jones lashed a two-run double in the home half of the first inning to give New Britain a 2-1 lead. It is reported that Billy Munoz, who Jones is replacing on the Rock Cats roster should be back in action sometime this week. No word on Jones' status with the Cats once that happens.

Kevin West extended his hitting streak to 18 games.

Luis Maza went 3-for-3, scored three times and reached base in all five plate appearances to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning and walked in the eighth. Maza is hitting .407 in his last 28 games after starting the season 5-for-30 (.167).

Jason Kubel was back in action after taking a ball to the head the other day. He had two hits and batted in three runs during his five at bats as designated hitter. James Tomlin had one run on three hits during three at bats for the Cats.