Major League Baseball

Valencia hits three-run homer for Twins in win

Published Mar. 10, 2012 10:26 p.m. ET

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Erik Bedard's attitude was the same even though his line was much better.

Bedard pitched three scoreless inning six days after allowing two runs in two innings, bu the Pittsburgh Pirates lost 4-2 to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

''I didn't work on anything specific,'' Bedard said after allowing one hit. ''Just trying to get all my pitches in the strike zone and get my arm strength.''

The Twins finally broke out of a prolonged slump after Bedard left.

Danny Valencia had two of the Twins' six hits. He doubled and scored in the fifth inning and hit a three-run homer in the sixth.

It was the first time in six games that the Twins had an extra-base hit. On Friday, they snapped a run of 27 scoreless innings by getting a pair of bases-loaded walks.

Twins starter Terry Doyle went 2 2-3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk. The right-hander left the game with the Twins trailing, 2-0.

''I think the problem today was that I felt too good,'' Doyle said. ''I felt so good I was overthrowing a little bit, couldn't get the ball down in the zone and didn't get good sink on my fastball. I tried to take it light this week throwing bullpens so I would feel good. I've got to find that good balance of getting my work in and not being tired and not doing anything so I'm too fresh.''

Doyle was a Rule 5 draft pick in December and must be offered back to the Chicago White Sox if he doesn't make the Twins' roster. He split last season between Class-A and Double-A.

''The spot that I'm in, I can't do anything about it except go out and pitch,'' Doyle said. ''Hopefully, that will be good enough for me to make the club.''

The Twins also played a ''B'' game Saturday, but manager Ron Gardenhire wanted Doyle to face the Pirates' everyday players.

''It was a good experience for me to face a full lineup of major league hitters,'' Doyle said. ''I got my pitch count up, which is one of the pluses I can take out of it.''

The Pirates had 11 hits, the sixth game in a row that they have reached double digits. Nate McLouth went 2 for 2 and Casey McGehee went 3 for 3 with one RBI.

''Our at-bats are better throughout the lineup,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. ''We've had more two-strike hits. We're putting balls in play and getting down the lines. We believe it will catch on.''

It was a solid game for McGehee, who will open the season platooning at first base with Garrett Jones. Three days earlier, McGehee got extra at-bats in an intrasquad scrimmage to refine his swing.

''You're always looking for rhythm and timing,'' Hurdle said. ''The results come quicker with some guys than others. He's trusting himself a little bit more. He had some really good at-bats (in the scrimmage) and we saw more on the field today.''

NOTES: Saturday, the Pirates beat the Twins in a ''B'' game, 8-2. DH Matt Hague hit a three-run homer and 1B Jeff Clement went 3 for 3 with three RBIs. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (broken orbital) bone returned to camp after having surgery eight days ago in Pittsburgh. Burnett is expected to miss two to three months. ... Pirates 2B Neil Walker, who missed three games due to lower back tightness, went through a full workout Saturday and was cleared to return to game action. He's set to bat cleanup in the game Sunday against Tampa Bay. ... Pirates RHP Charlie Morton will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against Philadelphia. Morton had hip surgery in October. ... The Pirates will scrimmage against the Netherlands at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

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