SARASOTA, Florida (Kyodo) -- Tomoyuki Sugano continued to make a strong impression in preseason for the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday when he struck out five over three perfect innings of a 4-3 win against the Minnesota Twins.

The 35-year-old right-hander was credited as the winning pitcher after preventing a base runner in his third game, and second start, of spring training in Sarasota, Florida.

"I was able to pitch well, both for myself and the team," Sugano said.

Showing a willingness to take risks, the former Yomiuri Giants ace struck out his first batter, lefty Matt Wallner, using a two-seam fastball that he had been reluctant to throw in Japan.

"Finding success is giving me more and more confidence," Sugano said.

The two-time winner of the Eiji Sawamura Award for Japan's most outstanding starting pitcher has not given up a run and allowed just four hits over seven innings of his first Major League Baseball spring training.

"I think I can still improve overall, by improving things like my fastball speed and accuracy," he said.