BALTIMORE — Joe Mauer’s 14th Opening Day start in a Twins uniform moved him past late Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew for most in Minnesota baseball history.

“It’s pretty cool,” Mauer said before singling in five at-bats in Thursday’s 3-2 loss in 11 innings at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. “It’s exciting. Any time you’re mentioned with Harmon, usually you’re doing something really good. That’s always pretty cool to hear that.”

Twins manager Paul Molitor saluted Mauer for the accomplishment during his brief remarks to the team in a closed clubhouse meeting before batting practice.

“We appreciate that a lot around here,” Molitor said. “Joe will probably acknowledge that it’s cool. I think he likes that word. It’s something that will probably grow in significance for him whenever that day comes when he takes the uniform off for the last time.”

Mauer, entering the final season of his eight-year, $184 million contract, said he began his day with the same butterflies he always gets on Opening Day.

“I woke up this morning nervous, excited, all those sorts of feelings I’ve been having 13 times prior,” he said. “That’s a good sign. I think if I woke up today and it wasn’t there, then something might be wrong. I’m excited to get out there with this group and get going.”

Mauer has the longest continuous tenure with one team among active players, having debuted with the Twins on April 5, 2004 at age 20. The only other active players to break in that season and remain with the same team are St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who debuted that June 3 at age 21, and New York Mets third baseman David Wright, who debuted July 21 at age 21.

“Pretty good players right there,” Mauer said. “I played against both of them in the minor leagues too. It’s been fun to watch those guys in their careers. I’m happy to see them in the same jersey too. It’s really special to me to be able to do that, and to be able to do it at home is pretty special.”

Among active players only Adrian Beltre (17), Albert Pujols (17) and Miguel Cabrera (14) entered Thursday with more Opening Day starts than Mauer.

‘A TAD BEHIND’

Ervin Santana, the Twins’ Opening Day starter the past two years, still hadn’t been cleared Thursday to play catch with a regulation baseball as he recovers from Feb. 6 finger surgery.

“The last day that I saw him, he was throwing into one of those pitch-back machines in the training room,” Molitor sad. “They’re going to switch from a softer ball to a hard ball and eventually the plan is to get him out playing some catch here in the near term.”

The original timeline had Santana returning to the big-league rotation by late April or early May, but that no longer seems feasible as the 35-year-old right-hander will have to rebuild arm strength with a throwing program.

“I think he’s maybe a tad behind where we thought he would be, but not significantly,” Molitor said. “We’re still thinking there’s a possibility it could be the (middle) of May, but there’s a lot of things that are going to have to happen before we can start talking about dates for him. I don’t think we’re looking at the end of April.”

Twins head athletic trainer Tony Leo has cautioned Molitor about not expecting Santana to rush back.

“Who knows though?” Molitor said. “Once he starts becoming symptom-free, it might get expedited.”

LIFTING ODORIZZI

Twins starter Jake Odorizzi had no issues with the decision to remove him after 93 pitches with a two-hit shutout working through six innings.

“Mollie just came over and said, ‘You’re done. You did a fantastic job holding a good team down,’ ‘ Odorizzi said. “I’m not against that. I know my pitch count was on the borderline. Hopefully as the year goes on we start to get a little feel for each other and I can get that extra inning here and there. Opening Day, I completely understand it. You don’t want to overdo anything on Opening Day.”

Odorizzi lowered his career earned run average to 4.42 in 19 outings against the Orioles. He is 5-4 in 99 2/3 innings against them, dating to his five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, and his 20 homers allowed are his most against any opponent.

“If I make few better pitches earlier in the game, I might be at a little lower pitch count,” Odorizzi said. “If I want to go deeper, I need to be a little more efficient.”

LYNN’S FINAL TUNEUP

Lance Lynn gave up six runs and two home runs in the first inning on Wednesday against Triple-A Pawtucket in his final spring tuneup, but the good news was the onslaught was stopped after 20 pitches.

“My first minor-league road start in a couple years, so it was good,” Lynn said wryly.

Lynn, who remains on track to make his Twins debut Monday at Pittsburgh, finished with 76 pitches over five innings and should have the OK to throw 100 or so pitches against the Pirates.

“Absolutely,” pitching coach Garvin Alston said. “It’s go time. Press the ‘go’ button.” Related Articles Luis Arraez’s return to Twins lineup on hold

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BRIEFLY

Phil Hughes, on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique strain, could appear in a minor-league game as soon as Saturday. The Twins won’t need a fifth starter until April 11 against the Houston Astros, and Hughes would be eligible to come off the DL at that point.