Hardy, Hoey face their old teams

SARASOTA, FLA. - J.J. Hardy and Jim Hoey had the chance to face their former teams Thursday when the Twins played the Orioles at newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium.

Hardy started at shortstop for Baltimore and went 1-for-2 with a single. He tried to steal a base, but Drew Butera got him out at second with a perfect throw.

The Twins traded Hardy to Baltimore in December for Hoey and minor league righthander Brett Jacobson.

"The way I'm taking it is, it was a payroll thing," Hardy said. "I don't have any hard feelings."

Hardy made $5.85 million through arbitration this winter and can become a free agent after the season.

"I like J.J.," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He got after it. He had a few injuries, but when he was out there playing, he was very consistent. We talked about more speed and all those things. We also know he made $5 million last year and that would go up. It was the same thing with [Orlando Hudson] at second base."

Hoey gets the win Hoey allowed one hit and two walks over two innings as the Twins scored two runs in the eighth inning to defeat Baltimore 2-0.

Hoey gave up a single in the seventh but got Adam Jones to ground into an inning-ending double play. After getting two quick ground ball outs in the eighth, Hoey walked No. 9 batter Josh Bell on four pitches and fell behind Robert Andino 3-0 before walking him, too. Hoey escaped by striking out Nick Green.

"I just lost the feel," Hoey said. "You try to find it again, take a breather, and go back and throw strikes."

Etc. • Luke Hughes raised his team-leading RBI total to five when he grounded a single to left field in the eighth inning. Hughes is batting .455 (5-for-11) with two home runs.

• On Glen Perkins, Gardenhire said, "Some of the hitters are surprised by his pitches, and that's because the ball jumps out of his hand, so I like the way he's throwing."

• Trevor Plouffe has played primarily shortstop in the minors, but the Twins are giving him a utility role this spring. He has played some first base and will play second base Friday, Gardenhire said.

• Cuddyer posted a picture of the bottom of his left foot on Twitter account (@mcuddy5), displaying a nickle-sized wound where his wart was removed.

On deck Francisco Liriano, who opened camp with left shoulder soreness, will start in a B game at 9 a.m., Friday morning against Tampa Bay on a minor league field at the Lee County Sports Complex. The A game will be at Hammond Stadium at noon, with Kevin Slowey opposing Rays righthander Jeff Niemann.

The Twins, who need to find work for 27 pitchers in big-league camp, added another B game to their schedule, Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

JOE CHRISTENSEN