Sidney Ponson makes his second regular season start for the Twins tomorrow at home against Tampa Bay.  He gave up eight earned runs in five-plus innings in his start against the New York Yankees last Monday.  His 12.71 ERA follows an okay spring training where he was 2-1 with a 4.29 ERA.  

Prior to Monday’s game, Ponson hadn’t pitched since March 31 in Florida but he said of his performance against the Yankees:  “I am not going to use it as an excuse.”   The Yankees had five runs in the first two innings but Ponson did hold them without a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings before giving up three more runs in the sixth.   

Ponson plans to throw a lot of sinkers at the Devil Rays tomorrow.  “That’s my thing,” he said. “I have a great defense behind me. …I have seven guys behind me who can catch the ball.  I am going to use them.  I don’t like to strike people out.  I am just going to throw the ball and let them hit into the ground and get them out.” 

Hopes are Ponson will help shape a successful starting pitching staff. The 30-year-old right-handed Ponson signed with the Twins during the off season after having arm trouble in 2006.  He appeared in 14 games with St. Louis and five with the Yankees, with ERA’s of 5.24 and 10.47. 

He said he didn’t feel pressure in trying to make the Twins roster in the spring.  “Not really. I knew the situation I found myself in with the Minnesota Twins,” he said. “I just had to go out there and pitch and get people out, and get my arm in shape.  If I made it, I made it.  If I don’t, I don’t.  And now it’s getting there. …It’s a long season.  I have about 30 more starts and we’ll see what happens.” 

Ponson said the Twins’ “World Series potential” was a reason he joined his new team.