Varland, Wallner shine in split-squad doubleheader
FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Twins ended their two-day streak of shutouts, but it didn't result in a win. They tied the St. Louis Cardinals, 1-1, at Hammond Stadium as a part of their split-squad doubleheader Wednesday, and they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in Port Charlotte.
Louie Varland, competing for a spot in the Twins' rotation, permitted one hit in four innings against the Cardinals while striking out four. After Victor Scott II reached on an infield single to lead off the first inning, Varland retired his next 11 batters.
"We're in a good spot right now," said Varland, who hasn't allowed a run in 11 innings this spring. "Throwing it well. The ball is moving how I want it and where I want it. It's been good."
BOXSCORE: St. Louis 1, Twins 1
The Twins played solid defense behind their pitching staff in their home game. Left fielder Manuel Margot ended an inning with a sliding catch in foul territory, and he threw out a runner at the plate to end another inning. Christian Vázquez, who hit an RBI single, also tossed out an attempted base stealer.
"The way [Vázquez] is moving, the way he's throwing the ball, the way he's swinging the bat, he looks much more in-season form than in Spring Training form," Baldelli said. "That's fantastic to see."
Twins reliever Justin Topa surrendered three hits and one run during the seventh inning, including a solo homer to Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson.
Wallner homers in loss to Rays
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Matt Wallner collected his first hit in nearly two weeks, cracking a long, opposite-field two-run home run to left off Rays left-hander Brendan McKay, and Class AAA outfielder Michael Helman added a blast of his own over the center field fence.
But Rays all-star infielder Brandon Lowe matched them with a long homer to center, and Jonathan Aranda hooked a two-run homer around the left-field foul pole, handing the split-squad Twins their fifth straight road loss at the Charlotte Sports Park.
Minnesota's roster, comprised mostly of players who will open the season in the minor leagues, managed only four hits against Rays pitching — the two homers, a lead-off double by shortstop Brooks Lee, and a single (and stolen base) by non-roster infielder Niko Goodrum.
BOXSCORE: Tampa Bay 4, Twins 3
Daniel Duarte allowed two runs in a two-inning start, the first runs he's allowed this spring in seven total innings. Left-hander Kody Funderburk pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four, and Jeff Brigham, who had given up only two hits in five Grapefruit League innings, surrendered a single to Curtis Mead along with Aranda's decisive homer in a two-inning stint.
The Twins are now 1-9 on the road this spring.
