Blue Jays hold Twins to one hit

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Eric Hinske hit a three-run homer and Roy Halladay threw four sharp innings as four Toronto Blue Jays pitchers combined on a one-hitter in a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday.

Halladay allowed just a soft single to A.J. Pierzynski in the third inning. Jeff Tam, Cliff Politte and Doug Linton followed for the Blue Jays, with Linton working the final three innings to earn the save. He struck out three.

Halladay was one of the best pitchers in the AL last season, when he went 19-7 with a 2.93 ERA and made the All-Star team. He has looked strong all spring.

"Every once in a while I have a hitter I will fall behind, but for the most part I have been happy," Halladay said. "I have been able to throw my pitches for strikes when I want to, and that's encouraging."

Toronto infielder Mike Moriarty returned to game action for the first time since getting hit on his left cheek by a fastball from Devil Rays right-hander Seth McClung on March 1.

Moriarty, a non-roster invitee, played third base for four innings and went 0-for-2 at the plate. He wore a protective jaw guard attached to his batting helmet.

Hinske, the AL Rookie of the Year last season, followed back-to-back singles by Ken Huckaby and Shannon Stewart with a drive over the right-field wall off All-Star closer Eddie Guardado. It was Hinske's first homer this spring.

"They shut us down, and pitching can do that to you," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Good pitching can shut you down and make things real boring out there, at least from our side. They were having fun."

Notes: The game took only 2 hours, 5 minutes. ... Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He is hitting .184 this spring with just one extra-base hit, a double. ... The Blue Jays agreed to one-year contracts with RHPs Brian Bowles, Corey Thurman and Justin Miller, C Kevin Cash and DH-1B Josh Phelps. ... Toronto RHP Cory Lidle faces Houston ace Roy Oswalt on Tuesday in Dunedin. ... Gardenhire said Bobby Kielty will start in right field Tuesday against Pittsburgh after missing more than a week with a pulled abdominal muscle. Kielty has been swinging both right-handed and left-handed and said he's fine. ... The Twins made their first cuts of the spring, trimming the roster to 49 players. RHP Willie Eyre, OF B.J. Garbe and C Rob Bowen were optioned to Double-A New Britain. C Gabby Torres and INF Luis Rodriguez were reassigned to minor league camp. ... Twins RHP Brad Radke starts Tuesday against Pittsburgh RHP Kris Benson.