Twins top Netherlands 4-2
FORT MYERS (AP) – One aspiring Minnesota Twins pitcher faced one of their established starters, and the winner was no surprise.
Kevin Slowey pitched three perfect innings Thursday for the Twins in a 4-2 exhibition victory over prospect Tom Stuifbergen, 20, and Team Netherlands.
It was the final tuneup for the World Baseball Classic for the Dutch squad, attended by a sparse crowd of 2,807 at Hammond Stadium.
Stuifbergen, signed by the Twins two years ago out of the town of Haalen, said he’s using Slowey’s career trajectory as motivation.
“I look up to him. He’s a great guy,” Stuifbergen said.
Stuifbergen, who didn’t play last season because of surgery to remove bone spurs from his right shoulder, walked two and gave up one run off two hits in three innings.
“Tom’s got good stuff. He’s a good kid. He’s got three good pitches he can throw,” said Bert Blyleven, the former Twins pitcher and current TV analyst who is serving as pitching coach for the Dutch team. He was born in Holland.
Stuifbergen, who has pitched only seven professional games, all at the rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins in 2007, acknowledged nervousness.
“I wanted to show the team what I’ve got,” he said. “I want to show them I can pitch at a higher level. Not many minor league Twins players get to start a big-league spring training game. If I’m one of them, I’m happy about that.”
Slowey struck out two batters and then pitched a fourth, simulated inning from the bullpen.
“I’m just working on the things I need to work on,” Slowey said. “I’m just working on keeping the ball down. Right now, I feel fine. I’ve only pitched five innings. It’s not a huge sample size, but it’s still good.”
Slowey went 4-1 with a 4.73 ERA in 11 starts and two relief appearances as a rookie in 2007. He posted a 12-11 record and a 3.99 ERA in 27 starts last season, his first full one as a big-league starter.