Hearing from Ubaldo Jimenez and game update (O's lose 2-1)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Twins 2, Orioles 1 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez faced two batters in the third inning, didn't record and out and was removed for T.J. McFarland, who induced a double play grounder and popup. Jimenez allowed one run and two hits, walked three and struck out five. He threw 28 pitches in the first, only 12 for strikes, and had four three-ball counts. He struck out the side in the second and issued a walk and allowed a single in the third, leaving with his pitch count at 57 (31 for strikes). McFarland allowed a run in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Eduardo Nunez and Eduardo Escobar. Jimmy Paredes had a two-out RBI single in the fifth to put the Orioles on the board. Mark Hendrickson retired the side in order in the fifth. Tommy Hunter walked two in a scoreless sixth. Brad Brach worked two innings and retired all six batters. Need to know: Jimenez's fastball topped out at 92 mph. Hunter's fastball was 94-95 mph. Paredes also had a broken-bat single in the first inning and is 5-for-10 this spring. Ryan Flaherty singled in the second inning for his third hit in seven spring at-bats, and he was robbed of a hit in the fifth on a diving catch by right fielder Max Kepler. On deck: Monday vs. Phillies in Sarasota, 1:05 p.m. _____________

FORT MYERS, Fla. - More adjustments are coming for Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

Having already changed his delivery in September, Jimenez said he's still tweaking it after watching video of his first start with pitching coach Dave Wallace.

Jimenez said he had better command of his fastball in his previous outing against the Tigers, but he did a better job today of taking into the game what he was doing in the bullpen.

"That's why I'm happy," Jimenez said. "I took what I was practicing, I took it into the game and I didn't forget it."

Jimenez had a solid first inning in his exhibition debut, but he labored in the second. It was reversed today, with Jimenez allowing a run and throwing 28 pitches in the first and striking out the side in the second.

"I was a little bit too slow with the curve the first couple of hitters, especially the leadoff guy, I was too slow with my mechanics. Once I got through that, I was able to let it go," Jimenez said.

As for the latest adjustment to his delivery, Jimenez said it's "a little different."

"We're trying to get the same thing, trying to get my hands down, so it's pretty much the same thing, but it might be a little different. It's still the same goal," he said.

"We watched a lot of videos of the first game and there's a little bit of stuff I need to correct to get my arm where it's supposed to be."

Jimenez considers today's start a step forward, though he didn't retire either batter he faced in the third.

"I felt really good with what I was working on and I was able to remember," he said. "I didn't pay attention to the result or anything. I was trying get what I was (working on) in the bullpen and take it into the game. That's why I'm happy."

Asked what he wants to do heading into his third start, Jimenez replied, "Just hopefully putting everything together. Hopefully to get to the point where when I get into the game I don't have to remember about stuff that I have to do. I can just get hitters out."

The Orioles need him to do it consistently. It didn't happen last season after signing a four-year, $50 million deal.

Is there pressure to show progress?

"Not really," Jimenez said. "What I always do is try to show the best that I can to get myself ready for the season and this year it's no different. It's pretty much the same. I'm trying to get my mechanics right so that when I get into the season, I don't have to work on it or go through that anymore.

"My goal is to pitch as much as I can so that whenever the season starts, I don't have to worry about mechanics. I want to be able to be out there and be able to do my stuff to get ready for the season."

Mark Hendrickson retired the Twins in order in the fifth and Tommy Hunter walked two batters in a scoreless sixth. Hunter's fastball was 94-95 mph. I didn't see Hendrickson's outing because the media was inside the visiting clubhouse with Jimenez.

Brad Brach is working the bottom of the seventh with the Orioles trailing 2-1.