Nolasco Throws 5 Innings, Twins Beat Marlins 4-2

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Ricky Nolasco pitched five solid innings against his former team in the Minnesota Twins' 4-2 victory over a Miami Marlins split squad Sunday.

Nolasco, likely to start on opening day for the Twins, threw 74 pitches, 48 for strikes. The right-hander exited with a 3.27 spring ERA after allowing two runs on seven hits (all singles) and no walks. He struck out three.

Nolasco has yet to allow a home run through 11 spring innings. His career rate is exactly one homer allowed per nine innings. He got 10 outs on the ground and two in the air.

"I think that's why I was brought over here," Nolasco said of the opening day assignment. "It's nothing that's not expected. It's something I've done before and just continue to do throughout my career."

Nolasco started on opening day the Marlins in 2009 and 2013.

"It's just another game," he said. "You don't make too much about it. I don't put too much thought into it. I just go out there and keep doing whatever I need to do. Go deep in the game and try to get us in the dugout to score some runs."

Nolasco has yet to allow a home run through 11 spring innings. His career rate is exactly one homer allowed per nine innings. He got 10 outs on the ground and two in the air.

Eduardo Escobar broke a 2-all tie with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning Minnesota.

Oswaldo Arcia added a wind-blown triple and a sacrifice fly for the Twins, who evened their spring record at 7-7-3.

Donovan Solano singled in his first two trips against Nolasco. Brian Bogusevic also had two hits for Miami.

Most Marlins regulars were in Panama this weekend for two games against the New York Yankees.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.