Twins top Jays to cap 20-win month

By Dan Myers

Sports Xchange

MINNEAPOLIS - Torii Hunter’s two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber match of a three-game series at Target Field on Sunday.

With the Twins trailing by a run after a solo homer by Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson in the top of the inning, Minnesota got the leadoff man aboard after a throwing error by Jays shortstop Jose Reyes. Twins second baseman Brian Dozier followed with a single two batters later, setting up Hunter, who ripped the first pitch he saw off the wall in left-center field.

Right-hander Blaine Boyer pitched a scoreless eighth and closer Glen Perkins the ninth for his league-leading 19th save.

Minnesota overcame an early exit from starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco, who left the game with an ankle injury with nobody out in the second inning.

Right-hander J.R. Graham picked up the slack, allowing only one unearned run over three innings of work. Righty Ryan Pressly got the win, walking one but getting out of a one-on, one-out jam in the seventh after Donaldson’s home run.

Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and did not figure into the decision.

Minnesota took the early lead on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Joe Mauer in the bottom of the first.

Reyes knocked in two on an infield single in the second to give the Jays the lead. Single runs in the fourth and fifth extended that lead to 4-1 before the Twins rallied with three in the sixth. Mauer knocked in second baseman Brian Dozier with a single to left ahead of third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who blasted his eighth homer into the second deck in left to tie the game at 4-4.

Roberto Osuna took the loss, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in an inning of work.

NOTES: Blue Jays INF Steve Tolleson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury. ... Blue Jays INF Munenori Kawasaki was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. ... The Blue Jays signed LHP Phil Coke to a minor league contract. Coke, who had a 6.20 ERA in 16 appearances with the Chicago Cubs this season, was released by the Cubs on Wednesday. He will join Triple-A Buffalo. ... Twins LHP Glen Perkins was available for duty Sunday after not pitching Saturday when RHP Blaine Boyer worked the ninth in a 3-2 win. ... The Blue Jays continue their six-game road trip Monday when they open a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. ... Minnesota opens a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday.

Result Saturday

Twins edge Blue Jays on late Dozier triple

MINNEAPOLIS - Brian Dozier’s seventh-inning triple drove in the tie-breaking run and gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field on Saturday.

Following a leadoff single by center fielder Aaron Hicks, Dozier followed two batters later with a deep drive that barely eluded Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera in the right center field gap.

Twins right-hander Ryan Pressly earned the win in relief of starter Kyle Gibson, pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning before Dozier’s heroics.

Gibson wiggled out of several early jams, coaxing a double play in each of the first three innings.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases against Gibson with one out in the third inning, but catcher Russell Martin hit a soft grounder back to the mound, where Gibson started a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.

Minnesota grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by catcher Chris Herrmann over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead.

Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar tied the score in the fourth with a solo home run to left before the Twins re-took the lead in the bottom of the inning, getting back-to-back doubles from first baseman Joe Mauer and third baseman Trevor Plouffe for a 2-1 lead.

Martin and left fielder Chris Colabello led off the sixth with consecutive singles against Gibson and Martin scored on a throwing error by Herrmann on a sacrifice bunt.

But with runners on second and third with nobody out, Gibson got a strikeout and an infield pop up, and left-hander Brian Duensing got Jays shortstop Jose Reyes to strikeout swinging, limiting the damage.

Gibson allowed one earned run in 5 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out three.

Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup took the loss, giving up the winning run on two hits in one inning of relief.

Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez did not figure into the decision after allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.

NOTES: Blue Jays INF Devon Travis did not play in a scheduled rehabilitation game Saturday with Triple-A. Travis had soreness in his injured left shoulder, which put him on the disabled list on May 17. ... Twins C Kurt Suzuki did not play (rest). ... Twins RF Torii Hunter did not play (rest).