BRADENTON, Fla. -- Craig Monroe homered three times against his former team Thursday, powering the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Monroe hit solo shots in the second and third innings off Scott Baker. In the sixth, he hit a two-run homer off reliever Kevin Mulvey.
"Some days, you just can't explain," Monroe said. "I'm working on a process, some things that I really feel will give me a chance to take some good swings. To go out today and see the process and the plan work, it's gratifying."
Monroe leads the Pirates with six home runs. He's gone deep in three straight games.
"We helped Craig Monroe make the (Pirates)," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I'm happy for him. He looks like he's really worked hard this winter, and he killed us today."
Monroe was cut by the Twins in August after batting just .202 in 58 games. This offseason, he signed a minor league contract with the Pirates and is trying to win a bench job during spring training.
"That guy ... he's always been a Twin killer," Baker said with a chuckle. "I don't know why that should change."
Monroe's first homer off Baker came on a fastball, the second was on a curveball.
"Bake's a good friend," Monroe said. "He didn't live that far from me in the offseason. You always feel bad when it's your buddy. At the same time, I'm pushing and working hard, trying to make this team. I'm trying to open up some eyes."
Monroe has a .253 batting average and 112 homers in six seasons with the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Twins.
Realizing his days as a starter likely are over, Monroe reworked his swing in the offseason. With the aid of Texas hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, Monroe cut out his left leg kick.
"Being a bench guy, you can't have that high leg kick because of the timing," Monroe said. "I feel like I'm in a great hitting position and I can see the ball early now. My balance is better. If my role is to be a guy off the bench, I feel like I'm more equipped for that role now."
Right-hander Vigil Vasquez pitched the first three innings for the Pirates. He gave up two hits and got one strikeout.
It was the first start of the spring for Vasquez, who missed about two weeks with biceps tendinitis.
"I feel great," Vasquez said. "I took a few days off and it worked out for the best. My stuff feels great coming out of my hand. I just have to fine-tune my changeup and my curveball. Once I do that, I'll be ready to go."
Vasquez was claimed off waivers two weeks before the start of spring training. Last season, he went 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA in five outings for the Detroit.
Notes
Minnesota's Nick Punto will have additional X-rays on his right elbow. He was hit on the elbow by a pitch Tuesday during a World Baseball Classic game. "There's a lot of swelling," Gardenhire said. "It will be a couple of days." ... Gardenhire offered a short synopsis of catcher Joe Mauer's status: "Nothing's changed." A recent exam revealed inflammation in Mauer's right lower back. Mauer has not yet played this spring while recovering from kidney surgery. ... Gardenhire said backup catcher Mike Redmond is not a long-term solution if Mauer's injury lingers. "I don't think he's built for that," Gardenhire said. ... Pirates outfielder Eric Hinske, who's been out two weeks with a ribcage bruise, hit off a tee and threw long toss. He remains day to day. ... Pirates lefty Phil Dumatrait had another setback after shoulder surgery and will be shut down for a week to 10 days.
