Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 16, 2008 21:01:19 GMT -5
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Infield prospect John Tolisano, a second-round draft pick by Toronto last year, came off the bench and hit a triple and scored a run in the Blue Jays 8-3 win over the Twins.
"He looked like he belonged," Toronto manager John Gibbons said.
Twins' pitcher Livan Hernandez insisted he's ready for opening day despite giving up six runs and nine hits in four innings.
"I feel good," said Hernandez, who has started on opening day seven times in his career. "I gave up some runs, but it's not about that. Trust me, I'm ready to go. I've got two more starts, and I'll be ready for the season."
Signed in the off-season to add a veteran presence to the Twins' young rotation, Hernandez struck out three and walked one. His ERA this spring is 9.69.
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire also is unfazed by the numbers.
"He threw 80 pitches," Gardenhire said. "He's in midseason form right now. He's getting his work in. He's doing his thing."
Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan struck out four and walked none but gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He has a 6.00 ERA this spring.
"Not enough strikes," Gibbons said. "He wasn't missing by much, but you've got to pound it in the zone at this level."
The Blue Jays left behind all their regulars on this road trip.
Marco Scutaro had two RBIs and John McDonald went 3-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and an RBI for Toronto.
Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Twins, who got another fine performance from Carlos Gomez as he tries to assert himself in the three-way competition for the centre field job.
A day after going 3-for-4 with his first home run this spring, Gomez went 1-for-2 and showed off some of his speed and the kind of approach the Twins want to see from a leadoff hitter. He led off the third inning with a bunt single, stole second base and advanced to third on an overthrow.
Gomez then scored on Mauer's single. He left in the fifth after getting the wind knocked out of him while catching a deep fly ball hit by Matt Watson.
"He said something to me, and I just took him off the field," Gardenhire said of Gomez, acquired from the New York Mets in the Johan Santana trade. "He's fine. We've got more players, and it's spring training."
Gomez is competing with Denard Span and Jason Pridie for the starting spot in centre.
Twins closer Joe Nathan struck out two and gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.
Notes: The Twins sent LHP Carmen Cali outright to Triple-A Rochester and reassigned RHP Kevin Mulvey to minor league camp. Cali went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 3 2-3 innings this spring. "We're going to go and let him get in all of the pitching that he can," Gardenhire said, noting that Dennys Reyes will be his situational left-hander out of the bullpen, leaving no room for Cali on the big league roster.
"He looked like he belonged," Toronto manager John Gibbons said.
Twins' pitcher Livan Hernandez insisted he's ready for opening day despite giving up six runs and nine hits in four innings.
"I feel good," said Hernandez, who has started on opening day seven times in his career. "I gave up some runs, but it's not about that. Trust me, I'm ready to go. I've got two more starts, and I'll be ready for the season."
Signed in the off-season to add a veteran presence to the Twins' young rotation, Hernandez struck out three and walked one. His ERA this spring is 9.69.
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire also is unfazed by the numbers.
"He threw 80 pitches," Gardenhire said. "He's in midseason form right now. He's getting his work in. He's doing his thing."
Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan struck out four and walked none but gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He has a 6.00 ERA this spring.
"Not enough strikes," Gibbons said. "He wasn't missing by much, but you've got to pound it in the zone at this level."
The Blue Jays left behind all their regulars on this road trip.
Marco Scutaro had two RBIs and John McDonald went 3-for-3 with a run scored, a walk and an RBI for Toronto.
Joe Mauer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Twins, who got another fine performance from Carlos Gomez as he tries to assert himself in the three-way competition for the centre field job.
A day after going 3-for-4 with his first home run this spring, Gomez went 1-for-2 and showed off some of his speed and the kind of approach the Twins want to see from a leadoff hitter. He led off the third inning with a bunt single, stole second base and advanced to third on an overthrow.
Gomez then scored on Mauer's single. He left in the fifth after getting the wind knocked out of him while catching a deep fly ball hit by Matt Watson.
"He said something to me, and I just took him off the field," Gardenhire said of Gomez, acquired from the New York Mets in the Johan Santana trade. "He's fine. We've got more players, and it's spring training."
Gomez is competing with Denard Span and Jason Pridie for the starting spot in centre.
Twins closer Joe Nathan struck out two and gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.
Notes: The Twins sent LHP Carmen Cali outright to Triple-A Rochester and reassigned RHP Kevin Mulvey to minor league camp. Cali went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 3 2-3 innings this spring. "We're going to go and let him get in all of the pitching that he can," Gardenhire said, noting that Dennys Reyes will be his situational left-hander out of the bullpen, leaving no room for Cali on the big league roster.
