Jimenez: "I felt good about what I did out there" (O's win 3-2)

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP

Score: Orioles 3, Twins 2

Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez looks a little better each time he takes the mound. He allowed two runs and five hits - the last three of the soft variety - in four-plus innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer in the second inning and Dariel Alvarez tripled in the third and scored on Everth Cabrera's grounder. Rule 5 pick Logan Verrett replaced Jimenez and tossed two scoreless innings. Zach Britton retired the side in order on three ground balls in the seventh. Tyler Wilson stranded two runners in the eighth after allowing two singles and earned the save with two scoreless innings.

Need to know: Jimenez threw 73 pitches, 47 for strikes. He's walked one batter over his last two starts. The Orioles have three triples this spring, the other two from Cabrera and Jimmy Paredes. Delmon Young singled twice, but was thrown out in the second inning trying for a double. Jayson Nix made a diving stop and throw at third base to rob Torii Hunter. Caleb Joseph threw out Eduardo Nunez trying to steal second base and Brian Dozier trying to advance to third on a wild pitch. Verrett has allowed two runs, walked one and struck out eight in nine innings. Nolan Reimold came off the bench and had another hit, leaving him 6-for-19 this spring. He also has a home run, four RBIs and four walks.

On deck: Thursday vs. Pirates in Sarasota, 1:05 p.m.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. - Ubaldo Jimenez rated today's start as his best this spring, saying his breaking ball was working along with his fastball command.

Jimenez is the first Orioles pitcher to work into the fifth inning, though he didn't record an out. He allowed two runs and five hits in four-plus innings, with one walk and four strikeouts.

"I felt good about what I did out there," he said. "I was able to have good command of the fastball and the breaking ball. My slider was good. My split was good, too.

"I feel really good, probably like the last one. This one, I have my breaking balls, too. The last one, I only had my fastball command. In this one, everything was working."

It appeared that Jimenez had more movement on his pitches than in previous starts.

"Probably this one and the last one they've been moving a lot, because I think I'm getting on top of the ball more, so I can make the ball move," Jimenez said.

The Twins strung together three straight hits to start the fifth and drive Jimenez from the game, but they didn't square up any of his pitches.

"It's part of the game," Jimenez said. "In the first inning, they hit the ball really hard. The three outs they got, they hit the ball really hard, and then in the last inning they hit it slow, but they found a way to get a hit."

Jimenez was pleased to still be in the game after the fourth.

"It was really exciting," he said. "They told me the plan was to go 75 pitches, so I'm happy I was able to do that."

It's fair to say that Jimenez is making progress. He's not dominating, but he's improving.

"Yeah, especially the last two," he said. "I feel really good. I've been taking what I've been working on in the bullpen to the games. I've had good command of the fastball. That's the main thing with me. Since Day One, that's what we've been working on is fastball command."

Asked if he's close to where he wants to be, Jimenez replied, "Pretty close. I know I still have to go 100 pitches and that's probably the next one, but talking about command-wise, the last three games has been pretty good."

The Orioles continue to lead 3-2 in the ninth inning.

Zach Britton retired the Twins in order in the seventh on three ground balls, giving him six scoreless innings this spring, including two in a B game against the Pirates. Tyler Wilson stranded two runners in the eighth.