Final/14
Overbay, Blue Jays outlast Twins in 13-inning marathon
May 27, 2007 - 5:11 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Lyle Overbay wasn't sure the game would ever end, but he finally put the Toronto Blue Jays up for good.Overbay drove in his fourth run of the game in the 13th inning to lead Toronto past the Minnesota Twins, 9-8, in the second of a three-game series on Saturday.
Having already hit a two-run home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the third, Overby hit a two-out single off Twins reliever Matt Guerrier (1-2) to bring home Royce Clayton and help Toronto avoid a deflating loss after two Minnesota comebacks.
"We scored, they scored," Overbay said. "What we do, they do. That's what those guys do over there. They've always been that team who finds a way. You can learn a little bit from them sometimes. It's kind of nice to come out on top instead of being the other one."
The Blue Jays nearly coughed up their largest lead of the season after leading by five runs in the eighth inning. Instead, Toronto came out of the nearly four-hour contest with its head high.
"That was one of those grind games," winning pitcher Brian Tallet said. "It could define our season with a big win like that."
The Twins came back on a Blue Jays bullpen that had been solid despite losing closer B.J. Ryan for the season on April 15 due to "Tommy John" surgery. Entering Saturday's contest, reliever Casey Janssen and replacement closer Jeremy Accardo had combined to go 36 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
But the Twins emphatically ended that streak.
"Jeremy was due, the law of averages was definitely against him," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's pitched great. They've both pitched good.
"This place is a house of horrors here."
After seven-plus solid innings from starter Tomo Ohka, Janssen replaced him with no outs and a runner on and the Blue Jays in control with a 7-2 lead. Janssen promptly gave up a two-run homer to Michael Cuddyer to cut Toronto's lead to 7-4.
After getting Justin Morneau to ground out, Janssen was chased by back-to-back singles from Torii Hunter and Mike Redmond. Accardo came in and stranded both runners, but the floodgates opened in the ninth.
Nick Punto started the rally with a leadoff infield single and Luis Castillo followed with a single off Accardo's glove. Jeff Cirillo then hit an RBI double to left field, and Cuddyer plated Castillo and pinch runner Jason Bartlett with an RBI single to end Accardo's night.
After Scott Downs walked Morneau, Jason Frasor got Hunter to hit a double-play ball to third base and Redmond to ground out to end the inning.
Frasor retired the Twins in order in the 10th inning, and Alex Rios hit a two-out solo home run off Twins reliever Pat Neshek in the 11th.
But Frasor was chased by one-out singles from Bartlett and Cuddyer to put runners on the corners in the bottom half of the frame, and Tallet (1-1) gave up an RBI forceout to Morneau before Hunter flew out to end the inning with the score tied, 8-8.
After a scoreless 12th inning, Overbay gave Toronto the lead for good in the top of the 13th, and Tallet retired the Twins in order to avoid another comeback.
It was Tallet's first win since July 20, 2006, against the Yankees, and his 2 2/3 innings marked his longest outing since throwing three innings on June 23, 2006, against the Mets.
Despite the comebacks, the Twins dropped to 0-21 when trailing after eight innings this season.
"I think we showed a lot by coming back," Morneau said. "I try to look at the positives of everything. We were down by five in the eighth inning, which is something to be said in itself."
Minnesota's rally spoiled a strong performance from Ohka, who is 0-2 in his last four starts despite giving up just three earned runs in each of his last three outings.
Ohka gave up three runs and eight hits, allowing just back-to-back RBI hits from Cuddyer and Morneau in the third inning. He was charged with an eighth-inning run after walking Cirillo prior to Cuddyer's home run.
The Blue Jays spotted Ohka a two-run lead just two batters into the game on Overbay's two-run home run. Overbay hit an RBI single in the third inning to give Toronto a three-run lead.
The Blue Jays added three more runs off Twins starter Ramon Ortiz in the sixth inning when Stairs hit a two-out solo home run, followed by Aaron Hill's double and a two-run blast from Royce Clayton - his first of the season. Stairs also chipped in an RBI double in the eighth inning.
The Twins once again got a less than desirable start from Ortiz, who is 0-5 in his last seven outings after beginning the season 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA. He has yielded at least four runs in each of his last five starts, raising his ERA to 5.75.
Cuddyer tied his career high with five RBI in the game, and his four hits in the contest also tied a season high.
- AL
FINAL 13
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 2 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 3
10 11 12 13 R H E
-- -- -- -- - - -
TORONTO 0 1 0 1 9 15 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 8 17 1 (FINAL 13)
BATTERIES: TOR
May 26 11:04 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY LYLE OVERBAY SCORED ROYCE CLAYTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L OVERBAY ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 9
MINNESOTA 8 TOP, 13TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.268, 2-FOR-6)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 10:55 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED JASON BARTLETT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 8
MINNESOTA 8 BOTTOM, 11TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.316, 2-FOR-5)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 10:26 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ALEX RIOS (11) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
11TH OFF PAT NESHEK.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 8, MINNESOTA 7
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: L OVERBAY (.259, 2-FOR-5, HR, 3 RBI)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 10:12 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: R Roberts ran for F Thomas.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, R ROBERTS ON FIRST, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 7 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M Stairs (.325, 2-FOR-3, HR, 2 RBI)
May 26 9:53 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Nathan relieved J Miller.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 7 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F Thomas (.224, 0-FOR-3)
May 26 9:50 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: JOE NATHAN (1-1, 2.11) STARTING THE 10TH
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7, MINNESOTA 7
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.224, 0-FOR-3)
May 26 9:50 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: N Punto at third base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 7 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F Thomas (.224, 0-FOR-3)
May 26 9:50 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Bartlett at shortstop.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 7 TOP, 10TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F Thomas (.224, 0-FOR-3)
May 26 9:49 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 2 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 7 11 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 15 1 (TOP 10)
CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JASON FRASOR
MIN - JASON MILLER
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.224, 0-FOR-3, BB)
M STAIRS (.325, 2-FOR-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI)
A HILL (.274, 1-FOR-4)
May 26 9:49 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED LUIS CASTILLO AND JASON
BARTLETT.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 7 BOTTOM, 9TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.286, 2-FOR-4, RBI)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 9:39 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JEFF CIRILLO SCORED NICK PUNTO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J CIRILLO ON SECOND, L CASTILLO ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 5 BOTTOM, 9TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.281, 2-FOR-3, BB, HR, 3 RBI)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 9:38 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY MICHAEL CUDDYER (7) TO RIGHT CENTER
WITH 0 OUT IN THE 8TH OFF CASEY JANSSEN SCORED JEFF CIRILLO.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7, MINNESOTA 4
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.288, 2-FOR-3, RBI)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 9:14 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MATT STAIRS SCORED JOHN MCDONALD.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M STAIRS ON SECOND, F THOMAS ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 7
MINNESOTA 2 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.275, 1-FOR-3)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 9:00 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY ROYCE CLAYTON (1) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 6TH OFF RAMON ORTIZ SCORED AARON HILL.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6, MINNESOTA 2
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: S FASANO (.154, 1-FOR-2)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 8:30 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MATT STAIRS (6) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 6TH OFF RAMON ORTIZ.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4, MINNESOTA 2
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.271, 0-FOR-2)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 8:28 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED JEFF CIRILLO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J MORNEAU ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.312, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 7:56 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED LUIS CASTILLO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, J CIRILLO ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.286, 1-FOR-1)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 7:53 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY LYLE OVERBAY SCORED SAL FASANO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L OVERBAY ON FIRST, A RIOS ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.264, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 7:41 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 2 2 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - TOMO OHKA
MIN - RAMON ORTIZ
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.336, 0 HR, 7 RBI)
J CIRILLO (.196, 1 HR, 5 RBI)
M CUDDYER (.274, 6 HR, 31 RBI)
Blue Jays vs. TwinsMay 26 7:17 PM
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