FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Twins got an Opening Day preview and an ugly flashback from last season when the Blue Jays started teeing off Thursday.

Rajai Davis and Brett Lawrie homered off Nick Blackburn, sending the Blue Jays to a 7-4 victory at Hammond Stadium.

Blackburn opened the spring with two scoreless outings, spanning five innings, before giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits in three innings against Toronto.

The Twins open with a three-game series in Toronto, starting April 1. They closed last year's regular season with the Blue Jays, and Toronto hit eight home runs in four games.

"Today, those guys were just sitting on fastballs; that's what they always do," said Blackburn, who was disappointed with his slider and change-up. "I think today showed exactly what their philosophy was. Hopefully we can all get geared up for that and show up [in Toronto] prepared."

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Blackburn had earned a spot in the starting rotation after tossing three perfect innings against Tampa Bay in his previous start.

"He's been throwing the ball so well," Gardenhire said. "It just wasn't one of those days where he got [his pitches] where he wanted."

JOE CHRISTENSEN