masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgLeft-hander Johan Santana threw two innings in an extended spring training start this afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out four.
The best news to come out of the 28-pitch outing in Sarasota was that Santana hit 87-89 mph with his fastball, which is better than the 84-87 mph he was clocked at in the simulated game that preceded today’s effort.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace drove from St. Petersburg, Fla., on the club’s off-day to watch Santana’s…

Left-hander Johan Santana threw two innings in an extended spring training start this afternoon, allowing one hit and striking out four.

The best news to come out of the 28-pitch outing in Sarasota was that Santana hit 87-89 mph with his fastball, which is better than the 84-87 mph he was clocked at in the simulated game that preceded today’s effort.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter and pitching coach Dave Wallace drove from St. Petersburg, Fla., on the club’s off-day to watch Santana’s extended spring outing.

Santana is scheduled to throw again Saturday.

Today’s game represented another positive step for the 35-year-old Santana, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2012 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. He previously missed the 2011 season while recovering from left shoulder surgery.

The Orioles signed the two-time Cy Young Award winner to a minor league contract on March 4 in hopes that he could work his way back from the shoulder problems and contribute on the major league level this season.

Santana is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 360 major league games. In his last big league action in 2012, he 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts for the Mets, throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1, 2012 against the Cardinals.