Nolasco Allows 4 Runs As Twins Beat Orioles' Split Squad 6-5

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Ricky Nolasco allowed four runs in six innings as the Minnesota Twins beat a Baltimore Orioles' split squad 6-5 on Sunday.

Minor leaguer Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Carl Yastrzemski, homered for Baltimore.

Nolasco allowed back-to-back home runs in the first, a two-run shot by Adam Jones, his fourth of spring training, and Travis Snider's first.

"I kind of picked the wrong day to give up fly balls, and I've been getting ground balls all spring, and the one day I started giving up fly balls, the wind's blowing," Nolasco said.

After Snider's homer, Nolasco retired 10 straight. One of the runs was unearned against Nolasco, who has allowed nine earned runs over 19 2-3 innings in five starts.

"I wasn't trying to do too much. I was trying to make a conscious effort to throw changeups," Nolasco said.

Miguel Gonzalez gave up five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Eric Fryer hit a two-run homer in the second. One batter after Gonzalez left, Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run drive off David Hess.

Mike Pelfrey, who was demoted to the bullpen on Saturday and expressed his displeasure about it, pitched a perfect seventh.

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TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: C Josmil Pinto underwent his second concussion test on Sunday. Pinto was injured by Adam Jones' backswing on March 21.

Pinto is competing with Eric Fryer and Chris Herrmann to be Kurt Suzuki's backup.

"It's getting tougher. There hasn't been a lot of playing time for that young man down here this spring," manager Paul Molitor said.

Pinto is batting .353 in just 17 at-bats.

Orioles: OF David Lough, who was scratched from Tuesday's game with back spasms and hasn't played since, is suffering from a hamstring injury, manager Buck Showalter said. It's possible that Lough will start the season on the 15-day disabled list.

SS J.J. Hardy's left shoulder is feeling better. Hardy collided with 2B Jonathan Schoop on Friday, and he's scheduled for an MRA on Monday.

STARTING TIME

Twins: Pelfrey, who was upset by his demotion to the bullpen had a conversation about it with General Manager Terry Ryan.

"It was just productive," Pelfrey said. "Obviously I was frustrated. I told him my side. He told me his side. No hard feelings. I don't want to be a guy who's upset or holds grudges. That's not me."

Ryan also felt the talk was positive.

"It was a healthy exchange. I listened and so did he. It's one of those situations," Ryan said.

Orioles: Gonzalez said that despite the shaky line he felt good about his outing. He walked his first batter of the spring in the sixth inning.

"Everyone talks about it. We don't want to go out there and start walking guys all over the place. I'd rather get hit. If we get hit we got a chance to make plays. That's why we have a good team and our defense is really good. We feel good. We have a pretty good chance to make some plays," Gonzalez said.

Manager Buck Showalter is nearly set with his rotation. Gonzalez will be in it.

"Just a matter of plugging them in, as soon as we finish off what we're doing with the fifth spot. We know who the first four are. Depends on who the fifth is. It may change some of the order," Showalter said.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson starts against Boston's RHP Justin Masterson on Monday

Orioles: Rookie RHP Zach Davies will be brought up from minor league camp to start against Tampa Bay RHP Matt Andriese in Port Charlotte

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