SARASOTA, Fla. — A handful of stray notes from the Twins' 6-5 win over Baltimore:
— Kennys Vargas was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, but manager Paul Molitor said he didn't mind the risk-taking. "We're trying to get him to find out what he's capable of," Molitor said. "He pulled the parachute a little soon."
Vargas hit a looping liner that bounced a few feet inside the foul line about halfway down the left-field line, scoring Eduardo Nunez from second. Outfielder Alejandro de Aza seemed to be conceding the double, and Vargas "pulled the parachute a little soon," Molitor said. "I thought he had a good chance there for a minute, but those last 30-40 feet … "
Well, that's a long way to run for a big man. Still, Molitor said, "I didn't have any problem with that, the way de Aza was running after that ball."
— Tim Stauffer and Aaron Thompson each pitched an inning of relief, and both had some minor difficulties. Stauffer gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, outfielder Michael Yastrzemski, grandson of Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. That's the fifth time in seven appearances Stauffer has allowed a run this spring, but the veteran righthander bounced back to strike out both Chris Davis and Adam Jones.
— Molitor and general manager Terry Ryan had nice things to say about Class A outfielder Adam Brett Walker, who batted fifth for the Twins on Sunday and went 0-for-3, flying out twice and striking out once.
"I've seen Adam enough to know he's a gifted kid, very athletic, runs well for a big man," Molitor said. "I think he's learning how to be a better hitter, cut down on strikeouts."
Added Ryan, "He's got raw power, that's very evident. He can run. We've had him in the outfield, and he's OK. Now it's just a matter of firming up the bat, taking good at-bats. He's a threat."
