Rain Washes Out Twins-Orioles Game
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles had two games scheduled for Monday — and didn't play a single inning.
Hours after rain canceled Baltimore's 1 o'clock game against Philadelphia in Clearwater, the 7 p.m. game between the Twins and Orioles was washed out.
The second game was called off not long after Orioles manager Buck Showalter selected Chris Tillman to be his opening-day starter on March 31 against the Boston Red Sox.
Knowing that the rain was coming, Showalter had Ubaldo Jimenez skip the trip to Clearwater. Instead, the manager sent the right-hander to Fort Myers to pitch against Boston minor leaguers. His line: 3 2-3 innings, two hits, no runs, seven strikeouts and two walks.
Jimenez will pitch in the second game of the season against the Red Sox.
Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman were slated to pitch against the Twins on Monday night. But Showalter told them long before the cancellation that they would instead throw against Orioles minor leaguers at the team complex on Tuesday, a scheduled off day for the entire team.
Right-hander Steve Johnson will also join the mix. Infielder Alexi Casilla, who's been battling a sore knee, needs at-bats in his bid to make the club as a backup and will participate in the session.
In other news, Showalter said outfielder David Lough won't play for two days because of a stiff neck.
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