Twins Top Tampa 7-3 in Spring Opener
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This afternoon, the Twins made their official spring training debut and they came away with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
This got off to an ominous start for the Twins. Starter Carl Pavano gave up a two-run, first inning home run to Matt Joyce. In the bottom of the first, David Price hit Jamey Carroll in the helmet with a fastball. Carroll quickly got to his feet and went to first base. (He said later he was fine. It was a glancing blow.) Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each struck out looking to end that inning.
Pavano pitched a scoreless second inning and then the Twins bullpen gave up just one more run the rest of the way.
Here are some of the highlights from the Twins Spring Opener (Feel free to add to the list):
- Denard Span went 2-3, and the time he got out, he stayed down on a tough Price pitch and grounded out.
- Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau left the game healthy. Mauer drove in a run with a 3rd inning single. Morneau drove in a run with a 5th inning.
- Ryan Doumit was 1-2 with a walk and a double. Danny Valencia drilled a double to the right centerfield gap.
- Tsuyoshi Nishioka went 2-3 with a long triple over the right fielder's head.
- Chris Parmelee went 2-2, although he did have a base running gaffe late in the game.
- Chris Herrmann came in late and drilled an RBI single.
- Matt Maloney pitched the 8th inning and struck out the side. My assumption is that Wayne Krivsky was smiling while watching that!
- Brian Duensing threw two scoreless innings. He was followed by one scoreless inning each from Matt Capps, Glen Perkins, Alex Burnett and Maloney. Anthony Swarzak gave up one run in the 9th inning.
- Cory Provus made his debut as the Twins play-by-play voice and it's clear he will do a good job.
What other observations did you take from the Twins first spring training game?
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