Nathan hopes to pitch despite torn ligament

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MINNEAPOLIS - Twins closer Joe Nathan is working to strengthen his right elbow with hopes the extra work will enable him to pitch this season despite suffering a torn ligament.

The injury was revealed in an M-R-I test, and Nathan won't throw a pitch for at least two weeks while the swelling goes down. If there's no progress, Nathan could have surgery that would sideline him for the regular season.

Nathan has saved more games than anyone else since coming to the Twins in 2004, and team officials are exploring options on finding a replacement. That could mean promoting someone already on the Twins' roster, although general manager Bill Smith is checking the availabilty of relief pitchers who are with other teams.

Danny Valencia tie-breaking homer in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Twins to a 7-6 Grapefruit League win over the Saint Louis Cardinals yesterday at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. The win gives the Twins a four-and-three record after one week of exhibition games.

Pitcher Kyle Waldrop ended the game in spectacular fashion by picking off David Freese, who had singled with two outs in the ninth. Carl Pavano started for the Twins and gave up three runs in three innings, while Jeff Manship gave up the other three Saint Louis runs in his only inning of work. Joe Mauer had a run-scoring double while rookie Ben Revere had two more hits and now has a .389 spring batting average. Revere leads the team with seven Grapefruit League hits.

The Twins are off today and play the Orioles tomorrow in Fort Myers.

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