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

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (3) AT MINNESOTA (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TORONTO 1ST: A Rios walked. L Overbay singled to right, A Rios to second.
V Wells grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Overbay out at second,
A Rios to third. T Glaus struck out swinging. F Thomas walked, V Wells to
second. M Stairs singled to center, A Rios and V Wells scored, F Thomas to
second. A Hill flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo reached on bunt single to pitcher. J Cirillo
grounded out to second, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer flied out to center,
L Castillo to third. J Morneau singled to right, L Castillo scored. T Hunter
flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: L Castillo singled to right. J Cirillo grounded out to
shortstop, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer homered to left, L Castillo scored.
B Tallet relieved J Litsch. J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter flied out
to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 6TH: T Glaus grounded out to second. F Thomas homered to left.
M Stairs walked. M Guerrier relieved S Baker. M Stairs caught stealing second,
catcher to second to first to shortstop. A Hill flied out to left. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: S Downs relieved B Tallet. L Castillo walked. J Cirillo
sacrificed to pitcher, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer struck out swinging.
J Morneau safe at first on error by pitcher S Downs, L Castillo to third.
T Hunter singled to right, L Castillo scored, J Morneau to second. J Frasor
relieved S Downs. M Redmond grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (3) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Starting Lineups -- A Rios RF, L Overbay 1B, V Wells CF, T Glaus 3B,
F Thomas DH, M Stairs LF, A Hill 2B, J Phillips C, R Clayton SS, J Litsch RHP.

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

Umpires -- Bruce Dreckman (HP), Adam Dowdy (1B), Gary Darling (2B),
Larry Poncino (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TORONTO 1ST: A Rios walked. L Overbay singled to right, A Rios to second.
V Wells grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Overbay out at second,
A Rios to third. T Glaus struck out swinging. F Thomas walked, V Wells to
second. M Stairs singled to center, A Rios and V Wells scored, F Thomas to
second. A Hill flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo reached on bunt single to pitcher. J Cirillo
grounded out to second, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer flied out to center,
L Castillo to third. J Morneau singled to right, L Castillo scored. T Hunter
flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 2ND: J Phillips singled to center. R Clayton grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, J Phillips out at second. A Rios grounded
out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Redmond singled to center. J Kubel flied out to center.
M Redmond picked off first. L Ford hit by pitch. N Punto grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 3RD: L Overbay popped out to shortstop. V Wells grounded out to
shortstop. T Glaus flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: L Castillo flied out to center. J Cirillo grounded out to
pitcher. M Cuddyer singled to left. J Morneau grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 4TH: F Thomas fouled out to first. M Stairs flied out to left.
A Hill struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter flied out to center. M Redmond doubled to right.
J Kubel walked. L Ford singled to right, M Redmond to third, J Kubel to
second. N Punto grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first,
L Ford out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 5TH: J Phillips grounded out to shortstop. R Clayton grounded out
to shortstop. A Rios singled to right. L Overbay walked, A Rios to second.
V Wells flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: L Castillo singled to right. J Cirillo grounded out to
shortstop, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer homered to left, L Castillo scored.
B Tallet relieved J Litsch. J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter flied out
to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 6TH: T Glaus grounded out to second. F Thomas homered to left.
M Stairs walked. M Guerrier relieved S Baker. M Stairs caught stealing second,
catcher to second to first to shortstop. A Hill flied out to left. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: M Redmond struck out swinging. J Kubel singled to center.
L Ford flied out to left. N Punto grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 7TH: J Phillips struck out swinging. R Clayton grounded out to
third. A Rios singled to left center. L Overbay flied out to left. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: S Downs relieved B Tallet. L Castillo walked. J Cirillo
sacrificed to pitcher, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer struck out swinging.
J Morneau safe at first on error by pitcher S Downs, L Castillo to third.
T Hunter singled to right, L Castillo scored, J Morneau to second. J Frasor
relieved S Downs. M Redmond grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 8TH: P Neshek relieved M Guerrier. V Wells walked. T Glaus popped
out to second. F Thomas struck out looking. M Stairs popped out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: J Kubel flied out to left. L Ford flied out to center.
N Punto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 9TH: J Nathan relieved P Neshek. A Hill fouled out to first.
A Lind hit for J Phillips. A Lind singled to left. R Clayton struck out looking.
A Rios singled to right, A Lind to third. L Overbay struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

Cuddyer, Hunter team up to lead Twins over Jays

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, TORONTO 3</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer andTorii Hunter took advantage of an error with an RBI single asthe Minnesota Twins edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, on Fridayin the first of a three-game series.

Luis Castillo went 2-for-3 with three runs scored for Minnesota,which won its third consecutive game.

Cuddyer's fifth-inning blast gave the Twins a one-run lead, butit was Hunter's seventh-inning, two-out bleeder through theright side of the infield that plated Castillo for the eventualwinning run. He was fortunate to have the chance.

Toronto reliever Scott Downs (1-1) induced a short roller fromJustin Morneau the previous at-bat with Castillo on second base,but Downs couldn't pick up the ball cleanly this time and wascharged with an error as Morneau made it to first base without athrow.

Matt Guerrier (1-1) threw 1 2/3 innings of relief for his firstwin since September 23. Pat Neshek worked around a leadoff walkin the eighth inning and Joe Nathan struck out Lyle Overbaywith runners on the corner and two outs to earn his 10th save in11 chances this season.

The Blue Jays got to Twins starter Scott Baker early, loadingthe bases on a hit and two walks in the first inning to set upMatt Stairs' two-out two-RBI single. But Baker, making just hissecond start this season, settled down from there, allowingjust three more baserunners through five innings.

But Baker's night ended with one out in the sixth inning aftergiving up a line-drive solo home run to Frank Thomas and walkingStairs. Thomas knotted the score at three with his seventhhome run this season and 494th of his career.

Minnesota cut Toronto's early lead in half, when Castillo scoredon a two-out single by Morneau in the bottom of the firstinning.

Toronto rookie starter Jesse Litsch weaved his way in-and-out oftrouble the next three innings before Cuddyer lofted a pitchover the fence down the left field line, ending Litsch's night.

Litsch, making just his third career start, allowed three runson eight hits with a walk in 4 1/3 innings.

Alex Rios was the only Blue Jays starter with multiple hits, ashe went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

 

AL: TORONTO at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TORONTO (3) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Toronto Starting Lineups -- A Rios RF, L Overbay 1B, V Wells CF, T Glaus 3B,
F Thomas DH, M Stairs LF, A Hill 2B, J Phillips C, R Clayton SS, J Litsch RHP.

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

Umpires -- Bruce Dreckman (HP), Adam Dowdy (1B), Gary Darling (2B),
Larry Poncino (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TORONTO 1ST: A Rios walked. L Overbay singled to right, A Rios to second.
V Wells grounded into fielder's choice to third, L Overbay out at second,
A Rios to third. T Glaus struck out swinging. F Thomas walked, V Wells to
second. M Stairs singled to center, A Rios and V Wells scored, F Thomas to
second. A Hill flied out to right. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo reached on bunt single to pitcher. J Cirillo
grounded out to second, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer flied out to center,
L Castillo to third. J Morneau singled to right, L Castillo scored. T Hunter
flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 2ND: J Phillips singled to center. R Clayton grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, J Phillips out at second. A Rios grounded
out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Redmond singled to center. J Kubel flied out to center.
M Redmond picked off first. L Ford hit by pitch. N Punto grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 3RD: L Overbay popped out to shortstop. V Wells grounded out to
shortstop. T Glaus flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2,
MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: L Castillo flied out to center. J Cirillo grounded out to
pitcher. M Cuddyer singled to left. J Morneau grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 4TH: F Thomas fouled out to first. M Stairs flied out to left.
A Hill struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter flied out to center. M Redmond doubled to right.
J Kubel walked. L Ford singled to right, M Redmond to third, J Kubel to
second. N Punto grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first,
L Ford out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

TORONTO 5TH: J Phillips grounded out to shortstop. R Clayton grounded out
to shortstop. A Rios singled to right. L Overbay walked, A Rios to second.
V Wells flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: L Castillo singled to right. J Cirillo grounded out to
shortstop, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer homered to left, L Castillo scored.
B Tallet relieved J Litsch. J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter flied out
to center. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 6TH: T Glaus grounded out to second. F Thomas homered to left.
M Stairs walked. M Guerrier relieved S Baker. M Stairs caught stealing second,
catcher to second to first to shortstop. A Hill flied out to left. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: M Redmond struck out swinging. J Kubel singled to center.
L Ford flied out to left. N Punto grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

TORONTO 7TH: J Phillips struck out swinging. R Clayton grounded out to
third. A Rios singled to left center. L Overbay flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: S Downs relieved B Tallet. L Castillo walked. J Cirillo
sacrificed to pitcher, L Castillo to second. M Cuddyer struck out swinging.
J Morneau safe at first on error by pitcher S Downs, L Castillo to third.
T Hunter singled to right, L Castillo scored, J Morneau to second. J Frasor
relieved S Downs. M Redmond grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 8TH: P Neshek relieved M Guerrier. V Wells walked. T Glaus popped
out to second. F Thomas struck out looking. M Stairs popped out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: J Kubel flied out to left. L Ford flied out to center.
N Punto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.

TORONTO 9TH: J Nathan relieved P Neshek. A Hill fouled out to first.
A Lind hit for J Phillips. A Lind singled to left. R Clayton struck out looking.
A Rios singled to right, A Lind to third. L Overbay struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TORONTO 3, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

Cuddyer, Hunter team up to lead Twins over Jays

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, TORONTO 3</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Normally its Justin Morneau's 400-plusfeet moon shots that are difference makers for the MinnesotaTwins. On Friday, it was a three-foot swinging bunt.

Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer and Torii Hunter tookadvantage of an error on Morneau's dribbler with an RBI singleas the Minnesota Twins edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, onFriday in the first of a three-game series.

Luis Castillo went 2-for-3 with three runs scored for Minnesota,which won its third consecutive game.

"You like to get a few breaks here and there," Twins manager RonGardenhire said. "Morneau getting a swinging bunt, the guy,obviously with a man out there on second base, panicked and tookhis eyes off the ball and didn't pick it up."

With the game tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Torontoreliever Scott Downs (1-1) induced a two-out short roller fromMorneau with Castillo on second base. But Downs could not pickup the ball cleanly and was charged with an error as Morneaumade it to first base without a throw.

Hunter hit Downs' next offering through the hole on the rightside of the infield, allowing Castillo to score the eventualwinning run. Hunter is hitting .429 with two outs and runnersin scoring position this year.

"I'm just lucky," Hunter said upon hearing that statistic.

Matt Guerrier (1-1) threw 1 2/3 innings of relief for his firstwin since September 23 and just the second win of his career.With Minnesota's bullpen struggling with injuries, Guerrier hasstepped up - throwing 10 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings inhis last six appearances.

"Matt's been huge for us," Cuddyer said. "He can go short, hecan go long. Tonight he came in and did it again."

Pat Neshek worked around a leadoff walk in the eighth inning andJoe Nathan struck out Lyle Overbay with runners on the cornersand two outs to earn his 10th save in 11 chances this season.

The Blue Jays got to Twins starter Scott Baker early, loadingthe bases on a hit and two walks in the first inning to set upMatt Stairs' two-out two-RBI single. But Baker, making just hissecond start this season, settled down from there, allowingjust three more baserunners through five innings.

Baker has been solid in both his starts after struggling to a5-8 record with a 6.37 ERA in 16 starts last season.

"I kind of told myself coming in here that I'm a differentpitcher and a different person," Baker said. "Knowing that,whatever happens in that first inning, you just try to get tothat sixth, seventh inning and if you're able to do that you didyour job."

But Baker's night ended with one out in the sixth inning aftergiving up a line-drive solo home run to Frank Thomas and walkingStairs. Thomas knotted the score at three with his seventhhome run this season and 494th of his career.

Minnesota cut Toronto's early lead in half, when Castillo scoredon a two-out single by Morneau in the bottom of the firstinning. Castillo reached when Toronto rookie starter JesseLitsch couldn't cleanly field his leadoff bunt.

"Two balls in front of the plate and we didn't handle eitherone," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "They both led toruns. You never know what happens, but the two baserunners goon to score. We're a very good defensive team. But both thosewere costly."

Toronto rookie starter Jesse Litsch weaved his way in-and-out oftrouble the next three innings before Cuddyer lofted a pitchover the fence down the left field line, ending Litsch's night.

Litsch, making just his third career start, allowed three runson eight hits with a walk in 4 1/3 innings. After winning hisfirst start, Litsch has gone 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA, allowing 15hits and striking out just one in his last two outings.

"He did what he needed to do, we just couldn't get the big hit,"Gibbons said. "He's a young kid. He battled, ended up gettinga big double play to get out of the fourth. Considering wherehe's coming from - a kid coming out of Double-A - I think he'sdone a pretty darn good job."

Alex Rios was the only Blue Jays starter with multiple hits, ashe went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.