Twins-Cardinals Thursday contest rained out

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins' scheduled game against the Cardinals at Hammond Stadium on Thursday was cancelled due to rain.

The Cardinals made the two-hour bus ride across the state from Jupiter, but after a 40-minute rain delay, the game, which was expected to be a sellout, was called.

Ace Adam Wainwright was scheduled to start for the Cards, and right-hander Ricky Nolasco was slated to start for the Twins with Brian Duensing, Casey Fien and Anthony Swarzak also on the list to pitch. Nolasco pitched a simulated game Thursday.

"It was good," said Nolasco, who wanted to pitch on normal rest instead of getting pushed back a day. "I got some good work in. Obviously, you can't control the rain, so you find ways to get to work. So this was just about building up the pitch count and arm strength. I was able to get some more adrenaline and extension than I thought. It's always tough in the cage, but it worked out good."

Outfielders Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks were late scratches for the Twins before the cancellation.

Arcia, who was originally in the lineup in right field and batting cleanup, was scratched due to a stomach virus. And Hicks, who was penciled in at center field and as leadoff hitter, was taken out of the lineup for precautionary reasons due to right elbow discomfort, which he felt after taking swings in the batting cages Thursday morning.

Wilkin Ramirez and Byron Buxton were scheduled to start in place of Arcia and Hicks, respectively, before the game was cancelled.

Fans with tickets purchased by mail, phone or Internet can exchange them only at the Hammond Stadium box office. Tickets must be exchanged by March 20. If a refund is preferred, fans who have purchased single-game tickets by phone, mail or Internet will receive a refund automatically.

And for tickets purchased at the box office, fans can exchange them only at the Hammond Stadium box office. Tickets must be exchanged by March 20. If a refund is preferred, only tickets purchased in person with cash need to be returned for a refund. All other payment methods will be refunded automatically.

Parking passes purchased at the gate need to be returned to the Twins' ticket office in Minneapolis along with a name, address and daytime telephone number to receive a refund.

Up next: The Twins face the Pirates in two games on Friday, as they play in a "B" game at 9 a.m. CT in Bradenton, Fla., before playing in a Grapefruit League game at 12:05 p.m. at McKechnie Field. Right-hander Kevin Correia will start in the "B" game, while right-hander Vance Worley will start in the Grapefruit League contest, which will be live on Gameday Audio.