Rocco hits mark

TWINS 8, RAYS 5: Two hits, including first home run, give Baldelli rookie record 40 through April.

MINNEAPOLIS - So much hype surrounded Devil Rays centerfielder Rocco Baldelli coming out of spring training that the temptation was to call him baseball's next superstar.

He's only 21, the Rays reminded everyone. He's just a kid, Rays manager Lou Piniella said over and over. It's going to take time, growing pains, lots of patience. Let's not rush him.

Yet that's impossible when Baldelli steps to the plate and lends more charge to the buzz.

Wednesday turned out to be another milestone night for Baldelli as the Rays lost to the Twins 8-5 before 15,282 at the Metrodome.

With two hits, including his first big-league homer, Baldelli set what is believed to be the major-league record for hits by a rookie through April with 40.

Think about that a second. Think of all the players in major-league history. Think of names such as DiMaggio, Mays, Ruth, Mantle, Williams, Rose. In fact, go through the list of Hall of Famers and check off the names. None of them, not one, had a better April than this scrawny kid from Woonsocket, R.I.

"I take whatever happens and just play," Baldelli said in typical ho-hum fashion. "If I do that, hopefully everything else will fall into place."

Perhaps it will fall into a place in Cooperstown. Don't roll your eyes. Major League Baseball was on hand Wednesday to make sure all Baldelli's tools - his bats, balls he hit, his helmet, gloves, shirt and shoes - were authenticated in case they want to take something to put on display at the Hall of Fame.

Baldelli said he talked to the people for the Hall memorabilia before the game and was hoping not to jinx himself.

How silly, considering the way he is swinging the bat.

"What a month he has had," Rays manager Lou Piniella said. "He's a player. He really is. He makes adjustments. He's intelligent. He has had a heck of a month. He should be very proud of what he has accomplished."

His 40 hits through April (he had one in March) broke the record of 39 by Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki in 2000. His homer and double, as well as a run-scoring groundout, gave him five RBIs, a career high. His total thus far: a .364 average, 40 hits and 20 RBIs.

"I say it all the time: If I'm feeling confident out there when I'm playing, that's all I can really ask for," Baldelli said. "I knew I was close (to a record) the last couple of days, but it's not something I really worried about."

His homer came on an 0-and-1 pitch against Tampa's Brad Radke. In typical Baldelli manner he was running so hard he almost passed Carl Crawford on the bases.

"I don't hit enough (homers) to know when one is out," Baldelli said.

The only downer, Baldelli said, was his accomplishments came during a stretch in which the Rays went 10-17, including a third straight loss Wednesday.

Starter Seth McClung couldn't get through the second inning as he fell behind 6-1 and started a mini-beanball quarrel by hitting a batter immediately after Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer in the first to give Minnesota a 4-1 lead. Before the game was over, Twins starter Brad Radke and Rays reliever Nick Bierbrodt were ejected for either hitting or throwing behind batters.