3:39PM Monday
March 4, 2013

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) --Justin Morneau is finding his hitting touch early in preparation for the World Baseball Classic.

Morneau had two hits, including an RBI double, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on Tuesday.

Morneau and teammate Joe Mauer, both taking part in next month's WBC, made the 2-hour trip from Fort Myers.

"Just to get my legs underneath me," Morneau said. "There's a big difference between playing five innings and playing nine. Knowing we're going to start earlier with the WBC, crank it up a little bit earlier."

Mauer singled and walked twice. He scored on Morneau's third-inning RBI double.

Morneau, who will be playing for Canada in the WBC, received a nice cheer when he was introduced during the announcement of pregame lineups. The first baseman hit a three-run double in Minnesota's 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh on Monday.

Both starting pitchers, Toronto's Ricky Romero and the Twins' Mike Pelfrey lasted just 1 2-3 innings in