twins/mlb

CLEARWATER, FLA. – Twins righthander Kyle Gibson was charged with six earned runs in 2⅓ innings of Thursday’s 10-6 victory over the Phillies in the other half of the Twins’ split-squad day. Gibson struggled with his command and was charged with three wild pitches as catcher Chris Herr­mann had a rough time handling some of his pitches.

Gibson, who gave up eight hits and a walk, has a 10.50 ERA this spring.

“Those were just  yanked fastballs,’’ Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of the wild pitches. “He was just trying to get too much at the end instead of nice and smooth. His ball was moving, you could see my catcher having a tough time back there. He was having a hard time seeing it. Then you have a pitcher yanking it makes it twofold.”

Said Gibson: “I thought I was going to have a great day because the first two-seamer I threw was great, it hit the glove. I think ... I’m trying a little bit too hard with my fastball and trying to do too much with it rather than just letting it do work.’’

La Velle E. Neal III