Ruiz, Núñez and today's series finale

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde admits that he knew very little about Rio Ruiz before spring training. Watched him play a few times for the Braves. Noticed a nice swing.

That's pretty much the extent of his early scouting report on a player who's become the Orioles regular third baseman.

Ruiz went 2-for-3 with his team-leading 11th walk yesterday in Game 1 of a doubleheader, the 16th time in 17 starts that he reached base. His on-base percentage increased to .356.

Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias drafted Ruiz in Houston and claimed him off waivers from the Braves at the Winter Meetings. Hyde heard good things about Ruiz from a close friend, former Triple-A Gwinnett pitching coach Reid Cornelius, who also talked up reliever Evan Phillips.

"I was looking forward to watching (Ruiz) play and I was really pleasantly surprised with his defense," Hyde said. "I thought he got a lot better in spring training defensively. I thought he took to the stuff that Flo (José Flores) and José Hernández and those guys were teaching him and coaching him. I thought he had a total buy-in to his defense, and I think it showed in the spring. And he hit some homers.

"He's always had a really nice swing, and now it's about confidence and playing at the big league level for me, and I think you see that at times where he goes in there with some presence. I really believe he can hit. I think he's got a chance to be a player in this league for a long time. I just want him to have confidence, I want him to be able to think that he does, and I think the more experience he's getting is valuable.

"The other day I left him in there against a left-hander and he got a base hit. But it was more about defense in spring training, which I was happy to see."

Ruiz played first base in Game 2 and figures to start at third again today against Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson. The possibility of sitting arises against some left-handers, with Hanser Alberto able to replace him.

Renato Núñez still hasn't played third base this season after coming down with a sore elbow in spring training. He's fine as the designated hitter, homering in both ends of the doubleheader.

Núñez clubbed three home runs yesterday, including two in the nightcap, and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, posting a .344 average in that stretch.

"I've been working hard in the cage with Don (Long) and Howie (Clark), so it's great to see results, of course," he said. "Everybody's working hard right here. Of course we want to win, but all we can do is keep working harder and hopefully get the Ws."

Gibson doesn't have a decision in three starts, but he's allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 18 hits with eight walks in 14 2/3 innings. Left-handed hitters are slashing .361/.410/.750 against him, right-handers .200/.333/.240.

Chris Davis is 5-for-18 with two home runs lifetime against Gibson. Jonathan Villar is 4-for-6.

Dylan Bundy is 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.414 WHIP in five career games (four starts) against the Twins over 23 1/3 innings. C.J. Cron is 4-for-13 with a double and three home runs.

Nate Karns pitched one-third of an inning last night at Triple-A Norfolk in the second game of a doubleheader and surrendered a three-run homer to Charlotte's D.J. Peterson. Karns allowed two hits and walked two batters.