• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hunter hits grand slam, leaves game in Twins win

Apr 18, 2007 - 6:51 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Torii Hunter left his mark on the game, before the game left a mark on him.

Hunter hit his sixth career grand slam against Jeff Weaver to break open a close contest before leaving with a left shoulder injury, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the Seattle Mariners, 11-2.

Ramon Ortiz (3-0) won his third straight start by allowing just two runs on eight hits in seven innings and Joe Mauer hit three doubles as the Twins tied a team record with eight doubles.

"Our offense beat the ball around pretty good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We had some balls roll through, we put some balls in the seats. Torii had a big grand slam and Joe Mauer had a big night, driving the ball all over the place. So it was a good night for our club offensively."

Meanwhile, Ortiz, who struggled last year, going 11-16 with a 5.57 ERA with Washington, opened the season 3-0 for the first time in his career.

"I am very confident," Ortiz said. "The way I see the team play, I'm very happy, and when you are happy, everything happens good."

With the Mariners holding a slim 3-1 lead in the fifth, Hunter belted a hanging breaking ball with two outs off Weaver (0-2) to improve to 11-for-24 lifetime against the righthander.

The Mariners elected to intentionally walk Justin Morneau to bring Hunter to the plate.

"I think that's smart because now you load the bases and you can throw to any base," Hunter said. "That was a good move and it just so happened I got lucky. Weaver for me as a righthander, when he bends over and throws sidearm, that's pretty tough for me. I'm uncomfortable hitting off this guy."

The six-time Gold Glove winner then left the game in the seventh, when he injured his left shoulder trying to make a head first diving catch of a line drive struck by Raul Ibanez. Hunter is listed as day-to-day.

"I think I'll be in there (Wednesday)," Hunter said. "It depends on how I wake up. I might be a little sore."

Weaver, who was making his first home start since signing a one-year, $8.5 million dollar free agent contract, was pounded for seven runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Ichiro Suzuki hit his 23rd career lead-off home run and his second in two days, and Jose Lopez hit a blast in the sixth for the Mariners, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.