FORT MYERS, Fla. — Byungho Park lined his second home run of the spring Monday, and the Twins erupted for eight runs in the first three innings, then coasted to their second straight Grapefruit League victory, 9-6 over the Miami Marlins.
Park, who has collected at least one hit in all three games he has played this spring, smacked an 0-2 pitch from Marlins starter Jose Urena onto the left-field berm, scoring Drew Stubbs ahead of him. It was the second home run of the spring for Park, who is 4-for-7 (.571) as he returns from an injury-filled rookie year.
The Twins scored five runs in the second inning, stringing together four hits, a walk and a Miami error. The rally was capped by Robbie Grossman double that scored two runs and knocked Marlins lefthander Justin Nicolino from the game in favor of former Twins lefthander Caleb Thielbar, who struck out Park and Jason Castro to end the threat.
But after taking a 7-0 lead behind Opening Day starter Ervin Santana, the Twins allowed the Marlins, whose lineup included only one projected starter (shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria) to rally for six runs. Four of the seven Twins relievers allowed runs, with only righthanders Michael Tonkin and Justin Haley emerging unscathed.
Santana breezed through two easy innings in his spring debut, needing barely two dozen pitches to record six outs. Santana allowed a harmless single in each inning, the latter erased by an around-the-horn double play started by third baseman Eduardo Escobar.
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