No Gardy. No Ozzie. But the game still had some excitement, especially late in the game, as the Twins beat the Marlins 5-2.
Danny Valencia kicked off the scoring in the top of the 1st when he homered to left field off of Miami starter Ricky Nolasco. That was Valencia's team-leading 3rd homer this spring. It would stay this way until the bottom of the 5th inning, when Twins starter Carl Pavano allowed a 2-run homer to Hanley "I won't move for Jose Reyes / I don't care if I have to move / I never had a problem with Jose / We're the best of friends now" Ramirez. Pavano only allowed those two runs over 4 2/3 innings, with an uncharacteristic 3 walks.
The two teams would have another scoreless drought until the Twins tied up the game in the top of the 8th. Pedro Florimon led off with a double, and Aaron Bates immediately followed with an RBI single. Then in the top of the 9th, the Twins scored three times, with the winning run coming from an RBI single by Brian Dozier.
The Battle for Squatter's Rights, a.k.a. The Third Catcher Race (Players ordered by chances of winning, in my opinion)
Drew Butera - Did not play. Slacker.
J.R. Towles - 0 for 3, left 4 men on base. His batting average is down to .222, which is why I've returned him below Butera.
Today's Dark Horse, Danny Lehmann - 0 for 2 with a whopping 5 men left on base
Studs
Danny Valencia (2 for 3, HR), Pedro Florimon (2 for 2, 2B, 2 R), Aaron Bates (2 for 2, RBI), Mike Hollimon (4 for 4, BB), Ben Revere (3 for 4, SB), Matt Maloney (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K)
Duds
Chris Parmelee, Luke Hughes, J.R. Towles (all 0 for 3), Danny Lehmann (see above, and because leaving 5 men on base in only 2 AB is awful)