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Worley happy with stuff despite giving up 4 runs in 2 innings as Twins beat Marlins 8-7

By: Steven Wine, The Associated Press

Posted: 03/1/2013 3:33 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 03/1/2013 3:49 PM

JUPITER, Fla. - When Minnesota Twins right-hander Vance Worley threw his first changeup of spring training Friday, Kyle Skipworth hit a broken-bat double.

So it went for Worley, who was satisfied with his pitching but unhappy with the results in the Twins' 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins.

"They were swinging and got the good part of the bat on the ball," Worley said.

Making his second start, Worley allowed four runs — three earned — and six hits in two innings.

Worley said his four-seamer, cutter and curve all were fine. When asked about his changeup, he shook his head.

"I broke a guy's bat for a double, so you tell me how it was," he said. "I made my pitch and got him to do what I needed him to do, but the ball found a hole. That seemed to be how every hit today was, except for a couple."

Henderson Alvarez allowed three runs and six hits in two innings in his second spring training start, and his last with the Marlins for a while. He's off to join the Venezuelan team for the World Baseball Classic.

"It's going to be a great honour for me," Alvarez said. "It's the first time I've represented my country in baseball, and it's going to bring me a lot of joy to do that and play alongside some of my countrymen and stars of the game."

Chris Colabello had a double and a single in two at-bats to help the Twins earn their fifth consecutive victory. Ryan Pressly, Tim Wood, Tyler Robertson, Pedro Hernandez and Michael Tonkin pitched one scoreless inning each.

Centre fielder Aaron Hicks had a hit and an RBI and became the first Twin to play all nine innings in spring training.

"He'll probably ask for a couple of days off now," manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Miami's Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer. Giancarlo Stanton went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly in his final game before joining the U.S. team for the WBC.

The game was a reunion for former Twins catcher Mike Redmond, the Marlins' new manager. Gardenhire was glad to see his protege get the job.

"When he would be on the bench, we'd talk," Gardenhire recalled.

"'Would you hit-and-run here?' 'Absolutely.'

"'Would you bunt him over here?' 'Absolutely.'

"I'd say, 'Well then, you do the interviews when he screws it up.' And now he gets that chance."

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