Notebook: Donaldson and Duffey shine as Twins lose 4-2

Pittsburgh 4, Twins 2

Box Score

Twins Takeaways:

Standout pitcher: Tyler Duffey (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 2K)

Standout hitter: Josh Donaldson (2-for-3, 2B)

Lineup:

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1371834375772463113

Highlights:

TYLER DUFFEY IS BACK.

Okay, sorry ... but Twins fans may be able to take a deep breath after today’s outing by Duffey where he averaged 92.6 miles per hour on his fastball, which was his average in 2020, but had been averaging sub-90 this spring. Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic came to twitter with even more encouraging news…

https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1371921814125867013

We don’t have, or at least I couldn’t find, the data to see if this is his usual approach for spring training but given today’s results I don’t have a reason to believe otherwise.

Duffey wasn’t the only talking point out of the bullpen today as Alex Colome, Hansel Robles, Taylor Rogers, and Brandon Waddell threw one shutout inning each while only allowing a combined four baserunners and striking out three.

Berríos failed to record a single clean inning today and was really hit hard by the Pirates over four innings by allowing eight hits, walking one, and only striking out one batter. Although players seem to be ramping up, as the Twins play their second nine-inning game in as many days, I still take today’s results with a grain of salt. Although it’s not encouraging, it’s spring training and at the end of the day it’s only one start.

Jorge Polanco left today’s tilt early after hurting himself when diving for a ball

https://twitter.com/dohyoungpark/status/1371925053080793092

Get a Randy Dobnak shirt while supporting a good cause.

https://twitter.com/InfieldChatter/status/1371852584269529088

Check out this beautiful Alex Kirilloff Topps Inception Rookie Card

https://twitter.com/NoDakTwinsFan/status/1371889997045850114?s=20

Other News Around the League:

Speedster Billy Hamilton, recently released by Cleveland, joins the Chicago White Sox camp on a minor league deal

https://twitter.com/JRFegan/status/1371870739960303626

The White Sox lack depth and Hamilton would be a nice option fo the extra-inning rule from 2020. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him stick as the last guy on the bench.

Old friend Kyle Gibson to get first Opening Day start of his career

https://twitter.com/Rangers/status/1371955478746517506

After six-plus seasons with the Twins, the sinker baller joined Texas in 2020 making 12 starts and sporting a 5.35 ERA (5.70 xERA) and striking out 58 batters over 67.1 innings.

MORE FROM TWINS DAILY

— Latest Twins coverage from our writers

— Recent Twins discussion in our forums

— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email