Game update and Ubaldo Jimenez on today's outing (O's win 8-1)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 8, Twins 1

Recap: The Orioles won their first game and are 1-10-2, but Matt Wieters left after the top of the first inning with right elbow soreness. Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run and four hits in 3 1/3 innings, with one walk and two strikeouts. Manny Machado had two doubles, an RBI and a run scored through two innings. Mark Trumbo delivered a two-run single in the first. Audry Perez, who replaced Wieters, singled and hit a two-run homer. Steve Tolleson added a two-run shot in the seventh. Chaz Roe worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings after replacing Jimenez. Zach Britton walked one in a scoreless sixth. Darren O'Day left the bases loaded in the seventh and Todd Redmond breezed through the eighth. Chris Lee gave up one hit in a scoreless ninth.

Need to know: Jimenez threw 30 pitches in the first inning (17 strikes). He finished with 61 pitches (39 strikes). Jimenez's 3 1/3 innings are the most by an Orioles pitcher this spring. Jimenez retired eight of the last nine batters. Henry Urrutia struck out in the first while pinch-hitting for Wieters. Jonathan Schoop doubled in the sixth. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard walked in his first plate appearance in the seventh. Tolleson committed a throwing error at third base. He had three errors against the Twins in a split-squad game in Fort Myers. Today's attendance: 7,523, the fourth sellout of the spring.

On deck: Sunday, vs. Twins in Fort Myers, 1:05 p.m.
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SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are closing in on their first spring victory, holding an 8-1 lead in the eighth inning.

Steve Tolleson, who replaced Manny Machado at third base, hit a two-run homer in the seventh after Joey Rickard led off with a walk.

Chaz Roe gave the Orioles 1 2/3 scoreless innings after replacing starter Ubaldo Jimenez. Zach Britton walked a batter in a scoreless sixth.

Darren O'Day allowed a double to Buck Britton and infield hit to Darin Mastroianni in the seventh, with Tolleson's throwing error moving Britton to third. O'Day got a called third strike on Jorge Polanco, hit Kennys Vargas to load the bases and induced a long fly ball from Mitch Garver.

It was long enough to drive Nolan Reimold to the fence, where he made the catch.

Jimenez has faced the Twins in consecutive starts and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. He surrendered an RBI double to Carlos Quentin in the first but later retired eight of the last nine batters.

"I felt good," said Jimenez, who allowed one run and four hits in 3 1/3 innings. "Right after the first inning, I was able to get in a good rhythm and command the fastball and throw over the breaking ball for a strike."

Asked whether he's improving in each start, Jimenez replied, "Yeah, sure."

"Today, I was able to throw the slider and the split. I haven't been throwing (them) in the first two games and they were good. I was able to incorporate them into the arsenal today, so it was good."

Jimenez was able to settle down mid-inning in the first after allowing a single, double and single in succession.

"It felt good because it gave me confidence that if you're able to command your fastball and throw your breaking ball when you need it, you're going to get out of any situation, and that's what I did in the first inning," Jimenez said.

Jimenez has seen the Twins twice in five days. He blanked them over three innings in his last outing.

"You probably don't feel too good facing those guys too many times, but this is spring training," he said. "I think the main thing I was able to do was go ahead and throw the fastball. I wasn't shy about throwing it today. It doesn't matter if I'm going to face them the next time out or do it during the season. This is spring training. I have to work on my fastball command and that's what I did."

Jimenez was surprised that catcher Matt Wieters exited the game after the top of the first. He had no indication that Wieters was bothered by a sore right elbow.

"No, no, not that I know," he said. "I don't know what happened."