What injuries? Mauer, Young look up to speed

BRADENTON, FLA. - Joe Mauer and Delmon Young missed several games early this spring as they worked their way back from injuries, but it was hardly noticeable Monday, when they combined for four hits in a 4-1 victory over the Pirates.

Mauer, who had arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-December, caught six innings and went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Young, who was sidelined early in camp by a swollen toe, went 2-for-3 with two hard singles to left field.

Mauer is 4-for-8 in Grapefruit League play, and Young is 10-for-25.

"I told the guys in the dugout, 'Why do you guys come to spring so early and swing so much? Do what [Joe] and Delmon are doing -- skip 10-12 games and just start hitting,' " manager Ron Gardenhire said. "These guys have gotta figure that out."

Gardenhire, a .232 career hitter, added: "If I had not taken spring training my whole career, I might have hit .240-.245. But I wasted a lot of time just swinging bad in the cage. They don't do it. They just go hit in the games. What a country."

Gang's almost all here Michael Cuddyer is tentatively scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut for the Twins on Wednesday, and Gardenhire hinted there's a good chance he will be ready to field his Opening Day lineup that night against the Orioles.

"You can tweet that one," Gardenhire said. "I'm telling you, the Internet will be ablaze."

"When you're up against the clock, you have to get your legs in shape," Cuddyer said.

Utility battle Don't look now, but Matt Tolbert is outhitting Luke Hughes in the battle for the Twins' utility infield spot. Tolbert went 2-for-3 against Pittsburgh, lifting his average to .314, and Hughes went 0-for-5, lowering his average to .283.

Hughes, who has five home runs to Tolbert's one this spring, did make a nice diving play at second base, while Tolbert committed his second error.

Etc. • Justin Morneau had five plate appearances in a minor league game Monday in Fort Myers and was hit by a pitch twice. He wasn't injured, as one of those pitches nicked him in the arm, but he didn't get many pitches to hit the whole game, grounding out twice and flying out in his other three trips to the plate.

• Joe Nathan made his first two-inning appearance of the spring, retiring all six batters he faced in a minor league game.

On deck Carl Pavano, Kyle Waldrop and Dusty Hughes are scheduled to pitch for the Twins on Tuesday, when they face the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla.