Orioles and Twins meet again, this time in Fort Myers (O's lose 12-9)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - For the fifth time this spring training the Orioles have taken the interstate south to Fort Myers. They've faced Boston and Minnesota twice each in the area and are back today to face Minnesota with David Hess on the mound.

The Orioles are playing the Twins for the fifth time among seven matchups this spring. They are 2-2 versus the Twins after Thursday's 7-6 loss in Sarasota. The Orioles have lost four of five and are now 10-9-2 with 12 games remaining in Florida before opening day.

Hess will make his fifth spring outing here today. Hess is 0-1 with an ERA of 3.48. Over 10 1/3 innings he's allowed nine hits and four runs with two walks, seven strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.06. Scheduled to also pitch today are Josh Rogers, Richard Bleier and Josh Lucas.

Right-hander Michael Pineda starts for the Twins. He is 0-0 with a 3.86 spring ERA over three games. In seven innings, he's allowed five hits and three runs. Pineda had Tommy John surgery on July 18, 2017 and missed all of the 2018 season.

The Orioles brought four pitchers today from minor league camp and they are Zach Muckenhirn, Diogenes Almengo, Luis Ysla and D.J. Snelton. Also over from the minors are infielders Zach Vincej and Sean Miller, outfielder Jaycob Brugman and catcher Cody Roberts.

O's probables the next few days:

Saturday in Dunedin versus Toronto: Alex Cobb against Sam Gaviglio
Sunday at home versus the Yankees: Mike Wright against Jonathan Loaisiga
Monday in Lakeland versus Detroit: Andrew Cashner against Jordan Zimmermann

The Twins lineup

C.J. Cron DH
Ehire Adrianza 2B
Tyler Austin 1B
Jason Castro C
Willians Astudillo LF
Randy Cesar 3B
Luke Raley CF
Brent Rooker RF
Wander Javier SS

I'm calling today's game on Orioles.com and/or the MLB At-Bat app.

Check back here for some in-game updates and I'll have a write up after the game as well.

Update: Twins jump out to an early 2-0 lead following a two-run homer by Jason Castro in the bottom of the first.

Update II: Hess quickly got two outs from the first two batters in the second inning, but the Twins proceeded to put four more runs on the board with no outs to spare in the inning. Wander Javier hit an RBI double to left field, and he was brought in by an RBI single up the middle by C.J. Cron. The scoring in the second was then capped off by an Ehire Adrianza two-run homer.

Update III: Hess got roughed up again in the third, allowing a solo homer to Willians Astudillo and a two-run shot to Luke Raley. His day ended early after allowing nine runs over 2 2/3 innings pitched. Rogers entered the game to get the final out of the inning.

Update IV: The O's get on the board, thanks to a Rio Ruiz RBI single followed by a two-run double off the bat of Joey Rickard. Pineda is getting pulled from the game with left-hander Pat Dean entering. Twins lead 9-3.

Update V: With two runners in scoring position with two outs, right-handed reliever Blake Parker threw a wild pitch which allowed Jonathan Villar to score from third. Rickard added to the scoring with a seeing-eye single up the middle to score Trey Mancini. Orioles are down 9-5, and the Twins are bringing in right-hander Dusten Knight to replace Parker with two on and two outs in the top of the fifth.

Update VI: Rule 5 pick Drew Jackson, who replaced Cedric Mullins in center field, hit a long two-run homer to left field off Preston Guillmet. Jack Reinheimer pinch-ran for Jonathan Villar, who walked. Reinheimer stole second base, but was caught trying to steal third as Stevie Wilkerson struck out for an inning-ending double play. O's cut a nine-run deficit to just two here in the top of the sixth.

Update VII: Adrianza hits his second two-run homer of the game, this one coming off Rogers in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Austin follows up it with a solo shot, giving Minnesota their sixth long ball of the game. Twins extend their lead to 12-7.

Update VIII: After back-to-back singles from Mancini and Hanser Alberto, along with a fielding error in left field to move runners up to second and third, Alcides Escobar drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center. Anthony Santander grounded out to second base to end the top of the seventh. Twins lead 12-8.

Final Update: Brugman grounded into a fielder's choice with runners on the corners, which scored Wilkerson from third, but that was the lone run the Orioles scored in the top of the ninth. Twins win this one 12-9.