MLB: Angels comeback from early deficit, crush Twins

MINNEAPOLIS - Mike Trout hit two homers, including a second-inning grand slam, as the Los Angeles Angels dug out of an early five-run hole in an 11- 8 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Thursday.
Trout’s slam erased a 5-0 Minnesota lead after one inning, giving the Angels a 6-5 advantage they would only build upon. He also hit a solo blast in the fourth, walked three times and scored three times.
The win moved the Angels to within one game of the Twins in the American League wild card standings and to within 2 1/2 of the slumping Houston Astros for the second wild card spot.
Angels reliever Matt Morin earned the win pitching 1 1/3 innings of relief of starter Hector Santiago, who did not get out of the first inning. Closer Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 36th save.
Twins right-hander A.J. Achter took the loss (0-1), allowing Trout’s grand slam in relief of starter Tommy Milone, who gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings.
The Twins hit for the cycle in the first inning, using a single, two doubles, a triple and a long two-run homer to post a five-spot against Santiago.
After a strikeout to lead off the inning, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier should have been an easy second out after he popped the ball up in the infield. But Angels first baseman C.J. Cron and second baseman Taylor Featherston could not find the ball, which dropped between first base and the mound. Dozier raced into second and was awarded a double.
Twins first baseman Joe Mauer followed with an RBI single to right field to make it 1-0. The hit extended Mauer’s streak of reaching base safely to a career-high 37 games.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe walked two batters later to set up right fielder Torii Hunter, who crushed an 0-1 offering into the second deck in left field for his 20th homer. It was the 212th career home run for Hunter in a Twins uniform, moving him into fifth on the team’s all-time list.
Left fielder Eddie Rosario followed with a triple off the wall in right center and scored on a double by catcher Kurt Suzuki, the final blow against Santiago, who was charged with five earned runs on five hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. The start was the shortest of his four-year big-league career (80 starts).
Rosario’s 13th triple this season is the most by a Major League rookie since Ray Lankford had 15 for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991.
Los Angeles scored six times in second. Milone gave up a leadoff double to third baseman David Freese and a one-out single to catcher Chris Iannetta, cutting into the lead at 5-1.
Back-to-back singles by Featherston and Erick Aybar loaded the bases ahead of Kole Calhoun, who drew a walk to make it 5-2. The walk ended Milone’s night after 1 1/3 innings, but it didn’t close the book on him.
Achter fell behind 2-0 before Trout blasted a 422-foot shot for his fourth career grand slam, giving the Angels a 6-5 lead.
The Angels added two more in the third off Achter on a two-run shot by Featherston, his second. Minnesota scored once in the bottom of the inning on a single by shortstop Eduardo Escobar.
Trout hit his second homer in the fourth and Hunter knocked in a run on a sharply hit ball down the third-base line that was ruled an error, pulling the Twins to within 9-7 through four innings.
NOTES: Angels INF Grant Green was available off the bench after missing the last two weeks with soreness in his Achilles. He is hitting .190 in 42 plate appearances with Los Angeles this season. ... Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker will throw a bullpen session on Friday and could start Sunday if he has no setbacks. ... Twins LHP Glen Perkins had no setbacks from a bullpen session on Wednesday and remains on track to be available Friday. He has not pitched since Sept. 1 because of soreness in his neck and back that required two cortisone injections. ... The Angels and Twins will play the second game of a four-game series on Friday at Target Field. Los Angeles will start LHP Andrew Heaney (6-3, 3.32 ERA) against Minnesota RHP Mike Pelfrey (6-9, 4.09).