Twins Win Both Split Squad Games

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Joe Mauer hit his first homer this spring, a two-run drive that sent a split squad of Minnesota Twins past the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 Tuesday.

Mauer connected in the first inning for an opposite-field shot to left. Trevor Plouffe added a two-run homer in the fifth for the Twins.

Mike Wright, competing for a spot in the Orioles' rotation, went four innings, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Logan Darnell started for the Twins, going two innings, striking out two.

Caleb Joseph had two of the Orioles' four hits.

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CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff declared himself ready for the season after throwing four innings in his first major league exhibition game of spring training, a 7-5 loss to a Minnesota Twins' split squad on Tuesday.

Acquired in the July trade that sent former World Series MVP Cole Hamels to Texas, Eickhoff entered spring training behind schedule after sustaining a small fracture in his right thumb last month during a bunting drill. He allowed three runs and four hits, struck out seven and walked two.

Eickhoff allowed a pair of solo homers to Daniel Palka and walked Miguel Sano twice.