TWINS 2, ORIOLES 0
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Sunday, March 8, 2009

Twins at the plate: Jason Kubel got Minnesota's first hit, then the Twins didn't get their second until the sixth inning, when Carlos Gomez drilled a two-run home run over the left-field wall and onto one of the back fields at Fort Lauderdale Stadium. Catcher Wilson Ramos reached base on an error and on a walk.

Orioles at the plate: Matt Wieters' single off Bobby Keppel to lead off the ninth was Baltimore's first and only hit of the day. The Orioles didn't have a baserunner until Oscar Salazar reached on an error with two outs in the seventh. Donnie Murphy hit a ball to the warning track in center in the sixth and Jolbert Cabrera got thrown out after hitting a hard ball to shortstop.

Twins on the mound: Francisco Liriano worked four perfect innings and struck out five batters. Closer Joe Nathan, making his first appearance since Feb. 28, struck out two batters in his lone inning. Philip Humber also threw a scoreless inning, continuing Minnesota's dominance over the Baltimore bats. Keppel, the last of six Twins pitchers, allowed the Orioles' only hit of the game.

Orioles on the mound: Danys Baez was extremely effective for the Orioles, pitching into the fourth inning without allowing any hits. Baez, who missed all of last season while rehabbing from an elbow injury, struck out two batters. Jim Johnson got four outs, and Hayden Penn allowed a long two-run home run.

Grapefruit League records: Twins 6-3; Orioles 6-4.

Up next: The Orioles will travel to Port St. Lucie, Fla., Monday for a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Mets, and Baltimore will start Koji Uehara. Veteran relievers George Sherrill, Chris Ray, Dennis Sarfate and Jamie Walker are also expected to pitch for the Orioles.

The Twins will have a road game of their own, heading to Port Charlotte, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. game and starting Kevin Slowey against the Rays' Scott Kazmir.