Hunter's Go-Ahead Double Lifts Twins Over Blue Jays 6-5
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run homer, Torii Hunter had a go-ahead double in the seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Sunday.
Ryan Pressly (3-1) got two outs for the win, and the Twins overcame an early injury to starter Ricky Nolasco to win two of three in the series. A sore right ankle ended Nolasco's bid for a sixth straight victory in the second inning.
The Blue Jays led 5-4 in the seventh after Josh Donaldson's 15th homer, but a throwing error by shortstop Jose Reyes allowed Aaron Hicks to reach safely in the bottom half against Roberto Osuna (1-2). One out later, Brian Dozier singled and then Hunter launched a two-run double over Chris Colabello's head in left field.
Blaine Boyer worked a scoreless eighth and Glen Perkins pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 19th save in 19 chances.
Nolasco threw only 28 pitches in his final start of an outstanding month. He had just started pitching to Russell Martin leading off the second before coming up awkwardly on the mound.
Nolasco stayed in the game after throwing a few warmup pitches, but Twins manager Paul Molitor pulled him for reliever J.R. Graham after he allowed back-to-back singles to Martin and Colabello.
The team said Nolasco would have an MRI and results were expected in the next day or so.
Toronto led 4-1 in the sixth before Joe Mauer's RBI single scored Dozier. Plouffe followed with a 434-foot homer to the second deck to tie it.
The Blue Jays regained the lead in the seventh on Donaldson's homer. Donaldson has homered in five of his last six games.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: The team placed INF Steve Tolleson on the disabled list with a strained groin and recalled INF Munenori Kawasaki from Triple-A Buffalo. Tolleson was batting .268 with three RBIs in 41 at-bats. Kawasaki had only five at-bats this season before being optioned to the minors last Monday.
Twins: GM Terry Ryan said Perkins was fine after sitting out Saturday's s game when he had trouble loosening up. The Twins used Boyer as the closer as a precaution. "I don't think it's anything other than maybe giving him a breather," Ryan said. . Ryan said RHP Ervin Santana faced batters and threw about 70 pitches Saturday at the team's training facility in Florida. Santana is serving an 80-game suspension for the use of a performance-enhancing substance.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Toronto begins a three-game series at Washington on Monday. R.A. Dickey (2-5) tries for his first road win of the season opposite Jordan Zimmermann (4-2).
Twins: Minnesota opens a four-game set at Boston on Monday when Mike Pelfrey (4-1) pitches against Clay Buchholz (2-6). The Twins swept three games from the Red Sox last week at Target Field.
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