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Zaun enables Blue Jays to sweep Twins

Jul 25, 2007 - 9:31 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Gregg Zaun and the Toronto Blue Jays turned a pitchers' duel into a blowout with one impressive inning.

Zaun knocked in four runs and Jesse Litsch tossed seven solid innings as the Blue Jays benefited from an 11-run sixth inning to cruise to a 13-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday afternoon.

John McDonald, Lyle Overbay and Frank Thomas each had two RBI for the Blue Jays, who secured their season-high fifth straight victory with their first home sweep of the Twins since August 1998.

"This whole homestand we've been playing great, our bats are on a roll, they've come to life," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "You do what we've been doing, you're going to win a lot of games. You hate to have an off day (Thursday), but we'll take it."

The sixth-inning outburst was highlighted by Zaun, who blasted an RBI double off Minnesota starter Carlos Silva (8-11) to start the scoring in the frame. He capped the inning with a three-run homer to give his club a commanding 13-1 advantage.

Toronto sent 14 men come to the plate in the frame and smacked seven hits, including a run-scoring triple by McDonald, RBI doubles by Zaun and Matt Stairs and run-scoring singles by Troy Glaus, Alex Rios and Thomas.

"We batted around there and scored 11 runs and guys are caught between high-fiving each other and trying to grab their batting helmets," Zaun said. "When it happens that fast, you don't have time to think about it, and then you look up and we've scored 11. That's pretty awesome."

Litsch (3-4), who has been the victim of poor run support this season, was making his second start against the Twins in 2007. On May 25, he allowed three runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings but did not receive a decision.

On Wednesday, he fared much better, yielding just one run and five hits, while walking one and striking out four. The righthander was extremely efficient, tossing just 84 pitches.

"I was ahead of people and being aggressive and throwing a lot of strikes," Litsch said.

Brian Tallet hurled the eighth and Brian Wolfe pitched the ninth to finish out the game.

The Twins started the scoring in the fourth thanks to Luis Castillo, who led off the frame with a double. After Jason Tyner grounded out and Mike Redmond lined out, Justin Morneau ripped an RBI single to right to give the Twins the lead.

But the Blue Jays took the lead with two runs in the fifth. Zaun led off with a single and advanced to third after McDonald doubled. After Howie Clark lined out, Overbay plated both runners with a double.

"We had second and third, those guys set the table for Howie and I," Overbay said. "Howie hit a rocket, and it was just kind of bad luck. He ended up hanging a change up to me, and I took advantage of it."

Silva allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out one and walking two for Minnesota.

"In the sixth inning, a lot of things happened," Silva said. "I missed my spots a couple of times. That team is playing pretty good baseball right now. You give them opportunities, and they are going to make you pay."

The Twins have lost four in a row, including a season high-tying five straight on the road.

"You've got to have offensive, and you've got to have pitching and these last few games we haven't got either," Minnesota catcher Mike Redmond said. "We have to focus on winning ballgames. It's getting too late in the season to be getting swept."