Minnesota Twins Fall to Toronto’s Potent Offense

Mar 8, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Miguel Sano (22) watches batting practice before the start of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Dunedin, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Miguel Sano (22) watches batting practice before the start of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Twins drop one against the Blue Jays

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The Minnesota Twins played split squad games today. One half of the team went to Dunedin to play the Jays and the other remained in Fort Myers to face the Cardinals. We’ll begin with the Dunedin recap and cover the Fort Myers contest in a separate article. Tyler Duffey had the start against the Jays and the challenge of facing Toronto’s imposing lineup.

Duffey was knocked around right away. The Blue Jays piled on 5 runs in the first inning with a RBI single and later, a grand slam.

Byung-ho Park responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning but that was the only baserunner the Twins could manage against Jays’ starter Gavin Floyd.

Duffey settled down after his rough first frame and put up 1-2-3 innings in the 2nd and 3rd. Pat Dean took over from there and he and Mason Melotakis combined to allowed 3 more Blue Jays runs in the 5th inning.

The Twins didn’t get on the board again until the 7th inning when Miguel Sano sent a towering two run shot out of the stadium. That would as close as the Twins would get. Toronto added another run in the bottom of the inning off Jake Reed.

3. 2. Final. 9. 39

C+. The Twins’ hitters put together 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 home runs and 9 strikeouts. Sano’s deep, two run drive earns him the special mention here. Park’s one run shot was another encouraging sign in his MLB transition.  . . Miguel Sano. OFFENSE

D-. A day after the Twins shut out the Orioles with great pitching, Minnesota’s hurlers struggled immensely this afternoon. They allowed 12 hits, 6 walks, 2 home runs, 9 earned runs and struck out 3. Far too many baserunners. Burdi gets the special mention here for being the only Twins pitcher to hold the Blue Jays to less than two walks/hits in an inning.. . Nick Burdi. PITCHING

Next: Who Leads off for the Twins?

Look for our recap of the Twins’ other split squad game later today.

The Twins will host the Phillies tomorrow at 12:05 CST in Fort Myers. Tommy Milone gets the start.