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Dozier homers for Twins in 6-6 tie with Cardinals

Posted March 14, 2015 11:00 pm

The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier hits a two-run home run in the third inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Brian Dozier hit his second home run of the spring, a two-run shot off Carlos Martinez in the third inning, and the Minnesota Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals played to a 6-6, nine-inning tie Sunday.

With a strong contingent of Cardinals fans making the drive across the state, Martinez left after 3 1-3 innings with a 5-0 deficit.

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson, a former first-round pick from the University of Missouri, opened with four scoreless innings. Gibson struck out four and allowed just two hits, back-to-back singles in the third.

Randal Grichuk, who homered against the Twins on Saturday in Jupiter, got the Cardinals on the board with a two-run double off Tim Stauffer in the sixth. The Cardinals rallied to tie the game on Dean Anna's sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Stauffer struggled for the third straight time this spring. In 2 1-3 innings, he allowed four earned runs on six hits.

BACK TO MINORS

Twins sent 13 players to minor league camp. Those moves included center fielder Byron Buxton, one of the top-ranked prospect in the minors, and right-hander Jose Berrios, ranked by some outlets as their top pitching prospect.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Martinez issued a pair of walks after opening his spring with 6 2-3 walk-free innings, including the first two frames Sunday.

"The walks hurt him," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "That's really the only part that I saw. For the most part he could have been out of there with a whole lot less damage."

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson, a former first-round pick from the University of Missouri, opened with four scoreless innings. Gibson struck out four and allowed just two hits, back-to-back singles in the third.

"I'm not going to be mad if I get more swings and misses," Gibson said. "Then I won't have to answer the questions about why I don't get strikeouts. As long as I'm executing down in the zone, the swings and misses will come."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright, yet to make his spring debut due to an abdominal strain, is scheduled to throw a simulated game against Cardinals minor leaguers on Monday at home. The plan is for Wainwright to throw 30 pitches or more.

Twins: Closer Glen Perkins (strained right oblique) came through Saturday's bullpen session without incident and is scheduled to throw next on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP John Lackey will make his first start of the spring at home against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Lackey is sticking to the same spring schedule he used last season after an extended World Series run in 2013.

Twins: After Monday's only scheduled off day of the spring, RHP Phil Hughes is slated to start Tuesday at the Baltimore Orioles. LHP Tommy Milone and RHP Trevor May will throw Monday in minor league games against visiting college teams. Milone will throw around 60 pitches while May will be limited to 45 or so.

Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier rounds third base after hitting a two-rRun home run in the third inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins' Kurt Suzuki, front left, hits a double in the fourth inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

St. Louis Cardinals' Randal Grichuk (15) reacts after getting a foul tip in the fourth inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins baserunner Kurt Suzuki, top, is safe after St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong lost the ball in the fourth inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins baserunner Kurt Suzuki, left, is safe after St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong lost the ball in the fourth inning during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson delivers the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Carlos Martinez delivers against the Minnesota Twins during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, right,delivers the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals during an exhibition spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 15, 2015, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) The Associated Press

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