GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (21-25) at MINNESOTA (22-24)

AL: TORONTO (21-25) at MINNESOTA (22-24)

<h3>Twins go for third straight win</h3>

Toronto (21-25) at Minnesota (22-24) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins return home for thefirst time since May 13 to open a weekend series against theToronto Blue Jays on Friday.

After posting the best home record in the majors at 54-27, theTwins have lost 10 of their last 14 games at the Metrodome fora 10-13 mark here.

In 2006, Minnesota went 1-3 against Toronto at home.

Minnesota's Scott Baker (1-0, 2.16 ERA) seeks for a repeatperformance after yielding two runs and six hits in 8 1/3innings of a 5-2 win at Milwaukee.

Baker, who started the season with Class AAA Rochester, facesToronto for the first time and looks to record consecutive winsfor the first time also.

Rookie Jesse Litsch (1-1, 3.55) surrendered four runs andseven hits in four frames of a 5-3 loss in interleague play atPhiladelphia. The 22-year-old was impressive in his major leaguedebut, yielding one run in 8 1/3 innings.

Alex Rios delivered the game-winning homer in the top of the10th inning as the Blue Jays posted a 5-4 victory over theBaltimore Orioles on Thursday.

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS

TORONTO MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Alex Rios RF .289 10 25 Luis Castillo 2B .329 0 7
Lyle Overbay 1B .255 6 21 Jeff Cirillo 3B .209 1 5
Vernon Wells CF .271 5 23 Michael Cuddyer RF .269 5 29
Troy Glaus 3B .286 8 23 Justin Morneau 1B .282 14 33
Frank Thomas DH .226 6 19 Torii Hunter CF .315 11 40
Matt Stairs LF .310 5 11 Mike Redmond C .306 1 12
Aaron Hill 2B .281 7 25 Jason Kubel DH .252 1 14
Jason Phillips C .256 1 9 Lew Ford LF .214 0 3
Royce Clayton SS .253 0 7 Nick Punto SS .230 0 8

Jesse Litsch RHP (1-1, 3.55) Scott Baker RHP (1-0, 2.16)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH (1-1, 3.55)
MIN - SCOTT BAKER (1-0, 2.16)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE DRECKMAN
1B - BRIAN KNIGHT
2B - GARY DARLING
3B - LARRY PONCINO

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH (1-1, 3.55)
MIN - SCOTT BAKER (1-0, 2.16)

UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE DRECKMAN
1B - ADAM DOWDY
2B - GARY DARLING
3B - LARRY PONCINO

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH AND JASON PHILLIPS
MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND MIKE REDMOND

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.289, 10 HR, 25 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.255, 6 HR, 21 RBI)
V WELLS (.271, 5 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MATT STAIRS SCORED ALEX RIOS AND VERNON WELLS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M STAIRS ON FIRST, F THOMAS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.281, 7 HR, 25 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.329, 0 HR, 7 RBI)
J CIRILLO (.209, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.269, 5 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .289
L Overbay 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
V Wells cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .269
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253

Totals 5 2 2 2 2 1 5

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .329
J Cirillo 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 2 -- 2
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.55

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 3.86

Pitches-strikes: S Baker 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker 1-1. Batters
faced: S Baker 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED LUIS CASTILLO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.315, 11 HR, 40 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J PHILLIPS (.256, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
R CLAYTON (.253, 0 HR, 7 RBI)
A RIOS (.289, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .289
L Overbay 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
V Wells cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .269
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253

Totals 5 2 2 2 2 1 5

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J Cirillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (34). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 2 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.95

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 1 2 2 2 2 1 0 3.86

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 21-13; S Baker 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 1-2; S Baker 1-1. Batters faced: J Litsch 5; S Baker 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M REDMOND (.306, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
J KUBEL (.252, 1 HR, 14 RBI)
L FORD (.214, 0 HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
L Overbay 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
V Wells cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .269
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 8 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. GIDP - R Clayton. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J Cirillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (34). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-L Castillo-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 20 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.95

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 3 2 2 2 1 0 3.48

Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 21-13; S Baker 40-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Litsch 1-2; S Baker 4-1. Batters faced: J Litsch 5; S Baker 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L OVERBAY (.259, 1-FOR-1)
V WELLS (.269, 0-FOR-1)
T GLAUS (.283, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
L Overbay 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259
V Wells cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .269
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 8 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. GIDP - R Clayton. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J Cirillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Redmond c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .228

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 3

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (34). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - M Redmond (1st base, J Phillips).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-L Castillo-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 20 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 3.68

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 2 3 2 2 2 1 0 3.48

HBP - L Ford (by J Litsch). Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 37-23; S Baker 40-27.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-3; S Baker 4-1. Batters faced: J Litsch 9; S
Baker 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.333, 1-FOR-1)
J CIRILLO (.205, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
L Overbay 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
V Wells cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .267
T Glaus 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .280
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 11 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. GIDP - R Clayton. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J Cirillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Redmond c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .228

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 0 3

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (34). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - M Redmond (1st base, J Phillips).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-L Castillo-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 200 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 3.68

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 3 2 2 2 1 0 3.18

HBP - L Ford (by J Litsch). Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 37-23; S Baker 52-37.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-3; S Baker 5-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 9; S
Baker 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH
MIN - SCOTT BAKER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.226, 0-FOR-0, BB)
M STAIRS (.319, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)
A HILL (.279, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (2) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Rios rf 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .287
L Overbay 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .257
V Wells cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .267
T Glaus 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .280
F Thomas dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .319
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Phillips c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250

Totals 11 2 3 2 2 1 6

BATTING: RBI - M Stairs 2 (13). 2-out RBI - M Stairs 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Hill 1. GIDP - R Clayton. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
L Castillo 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .331
J Cirillo 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
M Cuddyer rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .272
J Morneau 1b 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .285
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314
M Redmond c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .312
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .250
L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .228

Totals 12 1 4 1 0 0 4

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (34). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: Picked Off - M Redmond (1st base, J Phillips).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-L Castillo-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 200 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 100 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch 3 4 1 1 0 0 0 3.45

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
S Baker 3 3 2 2 2 1 0 3.18

HBP - L Ford (by J Litsch). Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 58-37; S Baker 52-37.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 4-4; S Baker 5-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 13;
S Baker 13.

UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Dreckman. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Larry
Poncino.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>