Correia backed by two homers in 'B' game draw

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Kevin Correia tossed three scoreless innings, while Eduardo Escobar and Jermaine Mitchell both homered in a 3-3 tie against the Pirates on Friday in a nine-inning "B" game held at Pittsburgh's Minor League complex.

Correia was solid, as he surrendered just two hits over three innings, with 21 of his 34 pitches going for strikes. Correia has yet to allow a run this spring in his three starts coming in an intrasquad game, a Grapefruit League game and Friday's "B" game.

"Hopefully, that continues," Correia said about his early spring success. "My command feels fine. It's just a matter of building arm strength and innings from here on out."

Mitchell gave the Twins their first run with a solo blast off Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole in the second inning. The Twins scored again in the third, when Escobar singled and came home on a double from Jorge Polanco. Escobar later tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh off Stolmy Pimentel.

The Pirates scored their three runs in the fourth on a three-run blast from Brent Morel off left-hander Brian Duensing.

Casey Fien, Anthony Swarzak, Alex Meyer, Caleb Thielbar and Yohan Pino each threw a scoreless inning in relief for the Twins.