Trio of homers helps Twins ease past O's

March 5th, 2016

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario homered and the Twins broke out for eight runs in the sixth inning in a 13-2 win over the split-squad Orioles on Saturday at Hammond Stadium.
Starting all nine of their regulars, the Twins scored in a hurry with Dozier blasting a leadoff homer off Orioles right-hander Tyler Wilson. They added a run in the second on an RBI single from Kurt Suzuki, who scored Byung Ho Park after he reached on an error.
It was the first of five errors committed by the Orioles, as another led to a run in the fifth, when Suzuki advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw and scored on a grounder from Joe Mauer.

Baltimore committed another error as part of Minnesota's eight-run sixth against relievers Chris Lee and Odrisamer Despaigne, as third baseman Steve Tolleson's throwing error set up an RBI single from Ryan Sweeney.
Engelb Vielma followed with an RBI single before Juan Centeno added an RBI double. Byron Buxton plated a run with a sacrifice fly before Eduardo Nunez brought home a run with a single. Joe Benson had an RBI double and Wilfredo Tovar had a two-run single to cap the scoring that inning. Centeno later tacked on a run with a solo shot in the seventh.
Twins' Santana pushes pitch limit in first outing
Right-hander Ervin Santana started for the Twins and had a quick first inning before laboring through a 41-pitch second. He gave up two runs on RBI singles from Ryan Flaherty and Paul Janish, but neither run was earned.

"Inning one, eight pitches, and inning two, more than eight," Santana said with a laugh. "It was a little more work. It's part of the game."
Jose Berrios, ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect by MLBPipeline.com, also made his Grapefruit League debut for Minnesota. The right-hander tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings but walked three.
Berrios battles nerves in first spring audition

Up next for the Twins: Right-hander Kyle Gibson is set to make his first spring start on Saturday, as the Twins travel to Port Charlotte to face the Rays at 12:05 p.m. CT, live on Gameday Audio. Other pitchers expected to see action include closer Glen Perkins and relievers Casey Fien and Michael Tonkin.
Up next for the Orioles: The Orioles visit the rival Red Sox on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV and Gameday Audio. Right-hander Mike Wright, making his second Spring Training appearance, will start opposite Boston's Clay Buchholz.