Minnesota led 2-1, 3-2, and 5-4, but Toronto's final 6-5 lead - after their 1-0 and 4-3 advantages disappeared - proved enough to lift the Blue Jays over the Twins in Toronto.
Vernon Wells drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with an RBI double off of Matt Guerrier, who has hit a rather worrying skid. The righthander has now allowed at least one run in three of his last four outings; Wednesday, he allowed an inherited runner to score from third on a sacrifice fly, then gave up the go-ahead run on Wells's double.
Once again, it was a night for home runs in Toronto. Orlando Hudson and Delmon Young went deep for the Twins, with Alex Gonzalez and Jose Bautista answering for the Jays. Bautista's blast was an inside-the-park homer in the fifth inning, a fly ball to left center that got between Young and Denard Span. Neither seemed to hear the other call for the ball; Young slid for an attempted catch, Span attempted to hurtle over him, and the two collided, with Span's shin catching Young's left wrist. Young stayed down, Span couldn't reach the ball in time, and Bautista chugged around the bases for his 22nd homer of the year.
Bautista also appeared to take a curtain call with Young still down on the ground, which (if it happened) seems to be a pretty classless move. We'll see if there's retribution on Thursday - or if I just saw the situation incorrectly.
Guerrier takes the loss for the Twins, though Kevin Slowey deserves much of the blame for giving away three separate leads. Slowey allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk, and departed after one was out in the seventh - another unimpressive start from the righthander. Scott Downs got four outs for the Jays in the win.
Studs and duds, under the cut:
Studs
- Orlando Hudson was 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and an RBI triple. He deserved the win all by himself.
- Justin Morneau was 2-for-4, and tough enough to get up after a collision at second base that may have affected others more strongly.
- Brian Duensing got four outs without allowing a runner, and has suddenly become the most dependable-looking reliever in the bullpen.
Duds
- Kevin Slowey, for obvious reasons.
- Matt Guerrier, for obvious reasons.
- Denard Span was 2-4, but played center field like he was out there for the first time.