Hernandez stays on track for Opening Day

Last update: March 21, 2008 - 8:53 PM

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PHILADELPHIA 3, TWINS 2

Up next: 12:05 p.m. today vs. St. Louis • Jupiter, Fla. • 1500-AM

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FORT MYERS, FLA. -- The Twins are slowly learning what it's like to have Livan Hernandez on the mound.

After getting knocked around in previous starts, the veteran had his best outing of the season in Friday's 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.

Making his fifth start of spring training, Hernandez held a watered-down Phillies lineup to two runs on three hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out six batters and said afterward that it was the best command of the strike zone he's had during spring training.

Maybe he really is building for the season. This is the same Hernandez, 1-2 with a 8.00 ERA, who promised that the "light's going to be on" March 31 -- Opening Day against the Angels.

"One more start, then I go to Minnesota, where it's cold,'' joked Hernandez, who spent two seasons in Montreal.

Hernandez, who watched Toronto steal three bases off him in his last outing, was pleased that he worked on his slide-step delivery with pitching coach Rick Anderson between starts and didn't have problems holding runners on base Friday.

But he does have a deliberate approach that the Twins must get used to.

"It's not going to be quick games with him,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He is going to take his time. That's the way it's going to be. We are trying to adjust to him.''

LA VELLE E. NEAL III