By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) –
FORT MYERS, Fla. — There was offense all over the Lee County Sports Complex on Wednesday. The Twins ran out to a big lead while beating Philadelphia 11-7 as Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau offered a reminder of what things look like when they are in the lineup together.
Both went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Mauer singled to left, right and center. Morneau clobbered his third home run of the spring, a two-run shot to right in the first inning off Vance Worley.
Mauer is batting .340. After watching his average drop to .091, Morneau has a five-game streak during which he’s 8-for-17 and has nine RBI.
“It’s nice to see those two back on the field enjoying the game of baseball and not worrying about what they are icing after the game,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.
In addition, Luke Hughes was 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and is batting .375.
Trevor Plouffe was the designated hitter in a minor league game elsewhere on the campus and belted three homers and a double in four at-bats against Class AAA Norfolk of the Orioles chain.
Gardenhire, watching the game from a tower overlooking the minor league fields, yelled down to Plouffe after the second home run, “I haven’t seen you run yet! Can you keep it in the park?”
Plouffe couldn’t, sending a strong signal that he wants to be the Opening Day right fielder.
Plouffe did some running in the outfield after his fourth at-bat — because he mostly trotted around the bases.
