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Minnesota hangs on to defeat San Diego

Jun 18, 2011 - 4:02 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Danny Valencia hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning, and Ben Revere knocked in the deciding run in the fourth as Minnesota escaped with a 6-5 decision over San Diego in the first edition of a three-game series at Target Field.

Joe Mauer knocked in a run in his first action since April 12, and Michael Cuddyer added an RBI for the Twins, who posted their fifth straight victory.

"It felt so good just to get back in the atmosphere and go home," Mauer admitted. "I was real excited to get out there with my teammates and get a win."

Brian Duensing (4-6) worked six innings for the win, allowing seven hits and two runs while fanning five. Matt Capps turned in a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.

Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer and Chase Headley finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and drove in the other two runs for the Padres, who have dropped six of seven.

Clayton Richard (2-9) was tagged in defeat for 10 hits and six runs -- five earned -- over five-plus frames.

"That first inning, no doubt...not many good things happened for us," said Padres manager Bud Black. "We battled back, outhit them, got their closer in the game and put the stress back on them. We had momentum on our side as the game went on because we played much better."

In the fourth, Jason Repko stroked a two-out single and advanced on a throwing error. He scored when Revere followed with a base hit to give the Twins a 6-1 edge.

Duensing served up a one-out walk to Alberto Gonzalez in the fifth, and he came around to score on Headley's two-out double.

The Twins wasted a two-on, one-out situation in the home sixth, and it came back to haunt the home team in the Padres' next turn at the plate. Consecutive two-out hits from Jason Bartlett and Headley against Alex Burnett preceded Ludwick's long homer to left which pulled the visitors within 6-5.

Glen Perkins shut the door in the eighth and Capps retired the side in order in the ninth to preserve the narrow victory.

Minnesota provided Duensing with a significant cushion early, tallying five times in the first inning. Revere reached on an error, advanced on an Alexi Casilla single but was caught stealing third. Casilla went to second on a wild pitch then came in thanks to a Mauer RBI single.

For Mauer, who was activated off the 60-day disabled list prior to the game, it was his first run batted in since his last appearance over two months ago.

"It's been a long time coming, and a long road back. I just tried to keep it simple tonight," Mauer said of his approach at the plate. "They had a tough lefty out there, and I tried to use the whole field against him. I was able to get a pitch there early and get one through the infield."

Cuddyer bounced a double to left to score Mauer then Delmon Young walked, both runners advanced on a passed ball and Valencia capped the five-run inning with his blast to the left-field seats.

Headley doubled in Chris Denorfia in the third to get San Diego on the board.

Game Notes

This is the first meeting between the clubs since the Twins swept three in a row from June 24-26, 2008 at the Metrodome...Minnesota has won five of the last seven meetings over San Diego...Prior to the game, the Twins also activated Perkins from the 15-day disabled list, sent outfielder Brian Dinkelman outright to Triple-A Rochester, and optioned pitcher Chuck James to Rochester.