JUPITER, FLA. – When asked if he was ready to start the regular season, Danny Santana looked offended and said, "Oh yes."
After thinking about it some more, he amended his statement to, "Maybe two or three more days."
Santana had four hits on Sunday during the Twins' 5-3 victory over Miami. There were a couple seeing-eye singles in there but it still was a flashback to a year ago, when he surprised many by hitting .319 and getting a few votes for rookie of the year.
The Twins don't care how Santana gets his hits. They just want him on base. Santana's 4-for-5 day lifted his spring batting average to .394. His only blemish was when he was picked off of first base by Marlins closer Steve Cishek.
"I've been trying to get my timing down because I didn't play winter ball last year," Santana said. "I feel a little more comfortable."
The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a RBI single to center by Eddie Rosario. Miami pitcher Jarred Cosart got in more trouble in the second, giving up single to Eric Fryer and a walk to James Beresford. Then Santana legged out a grounder hit into the hole at second, loading the bases. Jordan Schafer hit a two-run single and Santana scored on Trevor Plouffe's sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.
Danny Ortiz's sacrifice fly in the fifth accounted for the Twins' final run. The five runs scored by the Twins were their most in a game since Tuesday, when they scored 10 against Baltimore.
Schafer went 3-for-5 and Trevor Plouffe was 2-for-3, making it nine hits for the first three batters in the Twins lineup on Sunday.
