FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -The Minnesota Twins showed off their depth Tuesday with most of their regulars off because of personal reasons or minor injuries.

Jason Kubel hit a two-run homer and Brian Buscher had three hits to lead the short-handed Twins to a 12-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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First baseman Justin Morneau was scratched with a sore back and third baseman Joe Crede sat out with swollen right knuckles after getting hit by a pitch there Monday.

Outfielders Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer also were sidelined by minor medical issues, and center fielder Carlos Gomez took his pregnant wife to a doctor's appointment.

``We have a few issues here and there,' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, adding that Cuddyer and Gomez were expected back Wednesday and Young on Thursday. ``We're not going to push all of these guys. You give them a few days now, it's better later.'

That left a starting outfield of Denard Span in center, Kubel in left and minor league prospect Chris Parmelee in right. Kubel connected against Jeff Karstens in the third. Span went 1-for-3, scored a run and also had an RBI. Parmelee, a first-round pick in the 2006 draft, went 1-for-4 and scored a run.

Buscher, subbing for Crede, went 3-for-3 with two walks and scored twice. Brock Peterson, already optioned to Triple-A Rochester, filled in for Morneau and went 0-for-3, drove in a run and scored.

Karstens, competing with Virgil Vasquez for the No. 5 spot in Pittsburgh's rotation, gave up five runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

``With some of the hits they had, what can you do?' he said. ``I got myself into a little bit of trouble in that third inning. Of everything I threw, nothing was really hit really that hard except for the home run.'

Asked about his chances to make the team, Karstens, who has a 6.17 spring ERA, said he had no idea.

``It's all a blur,' he said. ``It's all a blur. We'll see what happens. Whatever they tell me - you're going to Pittsburgh or you're going to (Triple-A) Indianapolis - I've got to roll with it.'

Nick Blackburn allowed two runs and three hits in five innings for Minnesota. He struck out two and walked one.

``I was pleased with it,' said Blackburn, who has a 2.57 ERA this spring. His first start is set for April 10 in Chicago. ``I was happy. I would take throwing like this when we get up to Chicago. If I'm throwing like that, I'll be fine.'

Jack Wilson hit a two-run homer off Blackburn in the third.

Notes: The Twins optioned C Drew Butera and LHP Jose Mijares to Triple-A Rochester. They also reassigned INF Alejandro Machado to minor league camp. ... Minnesota decided to keep Jose Morales as its second catcher to pair with Mike Redmond. With All-Star Joe Mauer out with an inflamed back, the 26-year-old Morales will break camp as a major leaguer for the first time. ``I called my dad in Texas and told him,' Morales said. ``He started crying. I called my mom in Puerto Rico. She started crying, too. I called my wife, who's here in town. I told her we were going to Minnesota.'