GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (38-38) at MINNESOTA (39-36)

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 5 8 4
MINNESOTA 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 11 0 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JEREMY ACCARDO
MIN - PAT NESHEK

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.312, 1-FOR-4)
M CUDDYER (.290, 2-FOR-3, BB)
T HUNTER (.305, 1-FOR-3, SF, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (5) VS MINNESOTA (4) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .250
A Rios rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .288
M Stairs 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .287
T Glaus 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .280
F Thomas dh 2 1 1 0 2 0 1 .238
G Zaun c 4 1 1 2 0 1 2 .227
A Lind lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .230
H Clark 2b 3 1 2 1 0 1 0 .364
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
R Clayton ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .236

Totals 31 5 8 5 3 4 9

BATTING: 2B - A Lind (10, B Bonser); H Clark (2, B Bonser); A Rios (19, B
Bonser); R Clayton (11, B Bonser). HR - G Zaun (3, 6th inning off B Bonser 1
on, 1 Out). S - R Clayton. SF - A Rios. RBI - H Clark (2), V Wells (43), G Zaun
2 (19), A Rios (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Stairs 1, A
Rios 1. GIDP - M Stairs, F Thomas. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - R Clayton (6, ground ball); J Towers (3, throw); M Stairs 2 (3,
ground ball, throw). Outfield assists - V Wells (M Cuddyer at Home). PB - G
Zaun.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .304
J Bartlett ss 5 1 2 0 0 2 3 .252
J Mauer dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .312
M Cuddyer 1b 3 0 2 0 1 0 2 .290
T Hunter cf 3 0 1 2 0 0 5 .305
J Kubel lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .252
M Redmond c 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289
L Ford rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .217

Totals 35 4 11 3 2 4 18

BATTING: SF - T Hunter. RBI - N Punto (14), T Hunter 2 (59). 2-out RBI - N
Punto. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Punto 1, M Redmond 1, T
Hunter 2, J Kubel 1, J Bartlett 1. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (13, 3rd base off J Towers/G Zaun), J Mauer (5,
2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Guerrier-J Bartlett-M Cuddyer, J Bartlett-L Castillo-M
Cuddyer).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 000 022 100 -- 5
MINNESOTA - 021 000 10 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 6 1/3 9 4 3 0 2 0 5.59
S Downs 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.61
B Wolfe 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.18
B Tallet 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.73
J Accardo 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.53

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser 6 7 5 5 2 2 1 4.65
M Guerrier 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.93
D Reyes 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.67
P Neshek 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.18

B Bonser pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
S Downs pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 85-62; S Downs 6-2; B Wolfe 11-7; B Tallet 6-3; J
Accardo 5-4; B Bonser 94-54; M Guerrier 17-9; D Reyes 3-2; P Neshek 14-9.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Towers 8-8; S Downs 0-0; B Wolfe 0-2; B Tallet 1-0; J
Accardo 0-0; B Bonser 10-6; M Guerrier 4-1; D Reyes 1-1; P Neshek 0-0. Batters
faced: J Towers 29; S Downs 2; B Wolfe 4; B Tallet 2; J Accardo 1; B Bonser 27;
M Guerrier 5; D Reyes 2; P Neshek 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mike
Winters.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 5 8 4
MINNESOTA 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - JOSH TOWERS, SCOTT DOWNS (7TH), BRIAN WOLFE (7TH), BRIAN
TALLET (8TH), JEREMY ACCARDO (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

MIN - BOOF BONSER, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), DENNYS REYES
(8TH), PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND

HOME RUNS: TOR - GREGG ZAUN (3) OFF BOOF BONSER IN THE 6TH, 1 ON

MIN - NONE</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 5 8 4
MINNESOTA 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TOR - JOSH TOWERS, SCOTT DOWNS (7TH), BRIAN WOLFE (7TH), BRIAN
TALLET (8TH), JEREMY ACCARDO (8TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

MIN - BOOF BONSER, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), DENNYS REYES
(8TH), PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND


WP - JOSH TOWERS (3-5)
LP - BOOF BONSER (5-4)
SAVE - JEREMY ACCARDO (10)

HOME RUNS: TOR - GREGG ZAUN (3) OFF BOOF BONSER IN THE 6TH, 1 ON

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:46 ATT: 30,959

PROBABLES: TOR - A.J. BURNETT (5-6, 4.00)
MIN - CARLOS SILVA (5-8, 3.98)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (5) VS MINNESOTA (4) - FINAL

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .250
A Rios rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .288
M Stairs 1b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .287
T Glaus 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .280
F Thomas dh 2 1 1 0 2 0 1 .238
G Zaun c 4 1 1 2 0 1 2 .227
A Lind lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .230
H Clark 2b 3 1 2 1 0 1 0 .364
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276
R Clayton ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 0 .236

Totals 31 5 8 5 3 4 9

BATTING: 2B - A Lind (10, B Bonser); H Clark (2, B Bonser); A Rios (19, B
Bonser); R Clayton (11, B Bonser). HR - G Zaun (3, 6th inning off B Bonser 1
on, 1 Out). S - R Clayton. SF - A Rios. RBI - H Clark (2), V Wells (43), G Zaun
2 (19), A Rios (45). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Stairs 1, A
Rios 1. GIDP - M Stairs, F Thomas. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - R Clayton (6, ground ball); J Towers (3, throw); M Stairs 2 (3,
ground ball, throw). Outfield assists - V Wells (M Cuddyer at Home). PB - G
Zaun.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .304
J Bartlett ss 5 1 2 0 0 2 3 .252
J Mauer dh 5 0 1 0 0 0 1 .310
M Cuddyer 1b 4 0 2 0 1 0 2 .289
T Hunter cf 4 0 1 2 0 0 5 .304
J Kubel lf 4 1 2 0 0 1 2 .252
M Redmond c 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .289
L Ford rf 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .247
N Punto 3b 4 1 1 1 0 1 2 .217

Totals 38 4 11 3 2 4 18

BATTING: SF - T Hunter. RBI - N Punto (14), T Hunter 2 (59). 2-out RBI - N
Punto. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Punto 1, M Redmond 1, T
Hunter 2, J Kubel 1, J Bartlett 1. Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (13, 3rd base off J Towers/G Zaun), J Mauer (5,
2nd base off J Towers/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Guerrier-J Bartlett-M Cuddyer, J Bartlett-L Castillo-M
Cuddyer).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 000 022 100 -- 5
MINNESOTA - 021 000 100 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers (W, 3-5) 6 1/3 9 4 3 0 2 0 5.59
S Downs (H, 10) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.61
B Wolfe (H, 2) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.18
B Tallet (H, 1) 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.73
J Accardo (S, 10) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.45

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bonser (L, 5-4) 6 7 5 5 2 2 1 4.65
M Guerrier 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.93
D Reyes 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.67
P Neshek 2/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.18

B Bonser pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.
S Downs pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 85-62; S Downs 6-2; B Wolfe 11-7; B Tallet 6-3; J
Accardo 12-10; B Bonser 94-54; M Guerrier 17-9; D Reyes 3-2; P Neshek 14-9.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Towers 8-8; S Downs 0-0; B Wolfe 0-2; B Tallet 1-0; J
Accardo 3-0; B Bonser 10-6; M Guerrier 4-1; D Reyes 1-1; P Neshek 0-0. Batters
faced: J Towers 29; S Downs 2; B Wolfe 4; B Tallet 2; J Accardo 4; B Bonser 27;
M Guerrier 5; D Reyes 2; P Neshek 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mark Wegner. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mike
Winters.

T--2:46. Att--30,959.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 5
MINNESOTA 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (5) AT MINNESOTA (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Kubel singled to deep right. M Redmond lined out to
shortstop. L Ford grounded out to shortstop, J Kubel to second. N Punto
singled to center, J Kubel scored. N Punto safe at third on throwing error by
pitcher J Towers. N Punto scored on G Zaun's passed ball. L Castillo flied out
to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Bartlett singled to right. J Mauer flied out to left.
M Cuddyer singled to left, J Bartlett to second. T Hunter singled to left,
J Bartlett scored, M Cuddyer to second. J Kubel singled to center, M Cuddyer
thrown out at home, T Hunter to second. M Redmond flied out to right. (1 Run,
4 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 5TH: A Lind doubled to deep right. H Clark doubled to deep right
center, A Lind scored. R Clayton grounded out to second, H Clark to third.
V Wells grounded out to third, H Clark scored. A Rios hit a ground rule double
to deep left. M Stairs flied out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 6TH: T Glaus flied out to center. F Thomas walked. G Zaun homered
to right, F Thomas scored. A Lind flied out to left. H Clark struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 7TH: R Clayton doubled to deep center. M Guerrier relieved
B Bonser. V Wells reached on infield single to shortstop, R Clayton to third.
A Rios hit sacrifice fly to right, R Clayton scored. M Stairs grounded into
double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, V Wells out at second.(1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: L Castillo reached on bunt single to third. J Bartlett
struck out swinging. S Downs relieved J Towers. J Mauer reached on bunt single
to catcher, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer walked, L Castillo to third,
J Mauer to second. B Wolfe relieved S Downs. T Hunter hit sacrifice fly to
right, L Castillo scored. J Kubel struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (5) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Starting Lineups -- V Wells CF, A Rios RF, M Stairs 1B, T Glaus 3B,
F Thomas DH, G Zaun C, A Lind LF, H Clark 2B, R Clayton SS, J Towers RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- L Castillo 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer DH,
M Cuddyer 1B, T Hunter CF, J Kubel LF, M Redmond C, L Ford RF, N Punto 3B,
B Bonser RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Runge (HP), Mark Wegner (1B), Bruce Froemming (2B),
Mike Winters (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TORONTO 1ST: V Wells grounded out to shortstop. A Rios grounded out to
third. M Stairs grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo grounded out to third. J Bartlett singled to
center. J Mauer safe at first on error by shortstop R Clayton, J Bartlett to
second. J Bartlett stole third, J Mauer stole second. M Cuddyer lined out to
second. T Hunter grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TORONTO 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

TORONTO 2ND: T Glaus grounded out to shortstop. F Thomas walked. G Zaun
struck out looking. A Lind flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Kubel singled to deep right. M Redmond lined out to
shortstop. L Ford grounded out to shortstop, J Kubel to second. N Punto
singled to center, J Kubel scored. N Punto safe at third on throwing error by
pitcher J Towers. N Punto scored on G Zaun's passed ball. L Castillo flied out
to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 2.

TORONTO 3RD: H Clark singled to right. R Clayton sacrificed to third,
H Clark to second. V Wells grounded out to shortstop. A Rios flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 3RD: J Bartlett singled to right. J Mauer flied out to left.
M Cuddyer singled to left, J Bartlett to second. T Hunter singled to left,
J Bartlett scored, M Cuddyer to second. J Kubel singled to center, M Cuddyer
thrown out at home, T Hunter to second. M Redmond flied out to right. (1 Run,
4 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 4TH: M Stairs grounded out to first. T Glaus grounded out to
second. F Thomas singled to left. G Zaun flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TORONTO 0, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 4TH: L Ford flied out to center. N Punto grounded out to first.
L Castillo grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 0,
MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 5TH: A Lind doubled to deep right. H Clark doubled to deep right
center, A Lind scored. R Clayton grounded out to second, H Clark to third.
V Wells grounded out to third, H Clark scored. A Rios hit a ground rule double
to deep left. M Stairs flied out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Bartlett grounded out to third. J Mauer flied out to
left. M Cuddyer reached on infield single to third. T Hunter popped out to
first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 6TH: T Glaus flied out to center. F Thomas walked. G Zaun homered
to right, F Thomas scored. A Lind flied out to left. H Clark struck out
swinging. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 4, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Kubel grounded out to second. M Redmond safe at first on
fielding error by first baseman M Stairs, M Redmond to second on throwing error
by first baseman M Stairs. L Ford grounded out to second, M Redmond to third.
N Punto struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 2 Errors) TORONTO 4, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 7TH: R Clayton doubled to deep center. M Guerrier relieved
B Bonser. V Wells reached on infield single to shortstop, R Clayton to third.
A Rios hit sacrifice fly to right, R Clayton scored. M Stairs grounded into
double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, V Wells out at second.(1 Run,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: L Castillo reached on bunt single to third. J Bartlett
struck out swinging. S Downs relieved J Towers. J Mauer reached on bunt single
to catcher, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer walked, L Castillo to third,
J Mauer to second. B Wolfe relieved S Downs. T Hunter hit sacrifice fly to
right, L Castillo scored. J Kubel struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 8TH: T Glaus walked. F Thomas grounded into double play, shortstop
to second to first, T Glaus out at second. D Reyes relieved M Guerrier. G Zaun
grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: A Hill at second base. M Redmond fouled out to first.
L Ford walked. B Tallet relieved B Wolfe. N Punto grounded into fielder's choice
to second, L Ford out at second. L Castillo singled to left, N Punto to
second. J Accardo relieved B Tallet. J Bartlett struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 9TH: A Lind flied out to center. P Neshek relieved D Reyes. A Hill
struck out swinging. R Clayton struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 9TH: J Mauer grounded out to shortstop. M Cuddyer grounded out
to second. T Hunter grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

Zaun, Rios help Jays overturn early deficit, down Twins

<h3>TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Gregg Zaun hit a go-ahead, two-runhomer and Alex Rios plated the deciding run with a sacrifice flyas the Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a early three-run deficitto down the Minnesota Twins, 5-4, on Wednesday.

Zaun hit the first pitch he saw from Twins starter Boof Bonser(5-4) in the sixth inning just over the baggie in right field,plating Frank Thomas and completing the Blue Jays' comeback froman early three-run deficit to a 4-3 lead.

Rios brought home Royce Clayton in the seventh inning for aninsurance run, one Toronto would need as Minnesota answered witha run of its own in the bottom half of the frame on a sacrificefly from Torii Hunter.

Blue Jays starter Josh Towers (3-5) lasted 6 1/3 innings,allowing four runs - three earned - on nine hits with twostrikeouts. He won for the first time in his last threedecisions.

Towers had allowed 12 earned runs in his previous 15 inningsentering Wednesday's contest over his last three starts, givingthe Toronto braintrust a reason to remove him from the rotationonce fellow starter A.J. Burnett returns.

Jeremy Accardo came on with two runners on and two outs in theeighth inning, but struck out Jason Bartlett to end the threatand then threw a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 12 tries.

After needing 12 innings to score two runs on Tuesday night,Minnesota put two on the board off Towers in the second inning.Jason Kubel singled to lead off the second and scored on NickPunto's single three batters later.

Punto scored during the next at-bat thanks to poor work byToronto's battery, as Towers' errant pick-off throw allowedPunto to reach third, and a passed ball on the next pitch gavethe Twins a free run.

Minnesota struck again in the third with four singles offTowers, but only Bartlett scored on Hunter's single. MichaelCuddyer tried to reach home a batter later when Kubel singledfor the second time, but was thrown out at the plate by VernonWells.

Toronto fought back two innings later, as Adam Lind and HowieClark hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth and Wellsbrought home Clark with a groundout two batters later. Zaun'shomer in the sixth gave the Blue Jays the lead for good and Riosadded the necessary insurance run in the seventh.

After putting up zeros in four straight innings to start thegame, Bonser allowed five runs and seven hits with two walks andtwo strikeouts in six-plus innings. After compiling a 2.45 ERAin six May outings and winning four straight starts, Bonser hasgone 1-3 in June with a 6.91 ERA in five starts.

Toronto won despite tying its season high with four errors. Butonly Towers' second-inning throwing error led to an unearnedrun.

Castillo, Kubel and Jason Bartlett all had a pair of hits andscored a run for the Twins, who had won three of their last fourseries.

Toronto, which had its season-high four-game winning streaksnapped by the Twins on Tuesday, will go for the series win onThursday as they complete their four-game series with Minnesota.

 

Zaun, Rios help Jays overturn early deficit, down Twins

<h3>TORONTO 5, MINNESOTA 4</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Gregg Zaun hit a go-ahead, two-runhomer and Alex Rios plated the deciding run with a sacrifice flyas the Toronto Blue Jays rallied from a early three-run deficitto down the Minnesota Twins, 5-4, on Wednesday.

Zaun hit the first pitch he saw from Twins starter Boof Bonser(5-4) in the sixth inning just over the baggie in right field,plating Frank Thomas and completing the Blue Jays' comeback froman early three-run deficit to a 4-3 lead.

Rios brought home Royce Clayton in the seventh inning for aninsurance run, one Toronto would need as Minnesota answered witha run of its own in the bottom half of the frame on a sacrificefly from Torii Hunter.

Zaun's home run came after an adjustment in his second at batand led Toronto to its fifth victory in sixth games.

"I was looking to pull a ball in the hole and get Frank (Thomas)over to third base and I was able to get it up in the air,"Zaun said. "The pitch the at-bat before was in a similarlocation. I was able to keep my front side on the ball a littlelonger and get my back side working through it and was able toget the barrel (of the bat) where I wanted it to be."

Blue Jays starter Josh Towers (3-5) lasted 6 1/3 innings,allowing four runs - three earned - on nine hits with twostrikeouts. He won for the first time in his last threedecisions.

Towers had allowed 12 earned runs in his previous 15 inningsentering Wednesday's contest over his last three starts, givingthe Toronto braintrust some reason to remove him from therotation before opting to send fellow starter Ty Taubenheim backto the minors as they activated A.J. Burnett from the 15-daydisabled list following the contest.

"He was getting ground balls," Blue Jays manager John Gibbonssaid. "Josh gives up hits, he's always done that. But he hungin there."

Jeremy Accardo came on with two runners on and two outs in theeighth inning, but struck out Jason Bartlett to end the threatand then threw a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 12 tries.

After needing 12 innings to score two runs on Tuesday night,Minnesota put two on the board off Towers in the second inning.Jason Kubel singled to lead off the second and scored on NickPunto's single three batters later.

Punto scored during the next at-bat thanks to poor work byToronto's battery, as Towers' errant pick-off throw allowedPunto to reach third, and a passed ball on the next pitch gavethe Twins a free run.

"I said if I ever manage, I'm going to run all over people (beaggressive on the basepaths and steal bases) because it'sfrustrating," Towers said. "You've got to really concentrate onthem, you lose a little focus on what you're trying to do withyour pitch and you've got to change up your game."

Minnesota struck again in the third with four singles offTowers, but only Bartlett scored on Hunter's single. MichaelCuddyer tried to reach home a batter later when Kubel singledfor the second time, but was thrown out at the plate by VernonWells.

Zaun blocked the plate with his leg after getting the throw fromWells for what proved to be a pivotal out.

"That was a great play - a great throw by the centerfielder(Wells) and a great block by Zaun," Twins manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "Michael looked like he was going to get there and atthe last second, you throw the hammer down, you get your foot infront of home plate and block the plate. He did a super job."

Toronto fought back two innings later, as Adam Lind and HowieClark hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth and Wellsbrought home Clark with a groundout two batters later. Zaun'shomer in the sixth gave the Blue Jays the lead for good and Riosadded the necessary insurance run in the seventh.

After putting up zeros in four straight innings to start thegame, Bonser allowed five runs and seven hits with two walks andtwo strikeouts in six-plus innings. After compiling a 2.45 ERAin six May outings and winning four straight starts, Bonser hasgone 1-3 in June with a 6.91 ERA in five starts.

"It's just a rough month," Bonser said. "You could say I'm in alittle bit of a slump, I guess. That's all it is."

Toronto won despite tying its season high with four errors. Butonly Towers' second-inning throwing error led to an unearnedrun and the Blue Jays stranded 10 Twins baserunners.

"Early on, we had second and third in the first inning anddidn't get one in (and) a couple other times, we hadopportunities and we just didn't get them in enough," Gardenhiresaid.

Luis Castillo, Jason Bartlett and Kubel all had a pair of hitsand scored a run for the Twins, who had won three of their lastfour series.

Toronto, which had its season-high four-game winning streaksnapped by the Twins on Tuesday, will go for the series win onThursday as they complete their four-game series with Minnesota.