FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Francisco Liriano's fourth start of spring training was encouraging for the Minnesota Twins.
Hoping to break camp with the team 15 months after elbow surgery, Liriano pitched four hitless innings Sunday in Minnesota's 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The left-hander struck out five and walked two in a scoreless outing.
"The first inning was a little bit like his last start," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "The second inning, he started letting it go.
"The ball was moving pretty good. There was a little more progression. The slider had less tilt and more snap to it. He's stretching out fine. He was better out there than the last time. We'll see how he does Friday."
Liriano's fastball averaged 91-92 mph and topped out at 93-94, Gardenhire said. Liriano also worked on his slider. He threw 68 pitches and said about 12 were sliders.
Liriano, who went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA as a rookie in 2006 until getting hurt, has lowered his spring ERA in each of his past three starts. He lowered it this time from 8.10 to 5.06.
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera, meanwhile, dropped his spring ERA from 3.46 to 3.12. He struck out three and walked four in 4 1-3 innings.
Cabrera allowed three runs, one earned, and five hits. He made two fielding errors that hurt him.
"I thought he held things together pretty good," manager Dave Trembley said. "Obviously, the fielding bugaboos hurt him. On the second one, I think he was trying to turn it before he caught it."
Twins outfielder Jason Pridie went 2-for-4 with two runs. Joe Mauer, hitting .355 this spring, went 0-for-3 with a walk and scored a run.
Baltimore's Chris Heinz, a former Twins catcher, started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a double and his team's only run.
Trembley said he came away impressed with Liriano.
"I saw him in the minor leagues," Trembley said. "It looks like he's getting his arm strength back. He had a lot of movement on his pitches. His changeup looked real good."
Game notes
The Twins optioned LHP Glen Perkins to Triple-A Rochester. Perkins, a candidate for both the fifth starter's spot and a long relief role in the bullpen, went 1-2 with a 7.50 ERA this spring, allowing 19 hits with four walks and six strikeouts in seven appearances, including two starts. "He just needs to pitch," Gardenhire said. "He needs more innings. We decided the best thing for him and our ballclub now is for him to stretch it out. The numbers aren't very good, but the ball was coming out of his hand fine. He's going to start." ... Twins RHP Scott Baker said he finally feels recovered from a sore back and a bout with the flu. He is scheduled to start Wednesday. "I lost 10 or 12 pounds in three days," Baker said. "I had a 102- or 103-degree fever. I'm starting to feel better. I'm starting to get my appetite back. I should be able to throw five innings before we leave." ... The Twins traded OF Garrett Guzman to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named. The Nationals selected Guzman off the Triple-A Rochester roster in the Rule 5 draft. ... Twins closer Joe Nathan pitched a perfect seventh inning.