Final
Angels rally late to stun Twins
May 28, 2011 - 4:26 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Erick Aybar's homer powered a five-run eighth inning, while Peter Bourjos tripled and scored the decisive run in the ninth as the Angels stunned the Twins, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game set.Bourjos started the eighth-inning rally with an infield single, later scoring on Aybar's three-run shot. The center fielder also robbed Jim Thome of a home run in the sixth inning to help the Angels start their six-game road trip on a positive note.
They secured the victory only after Jordan Walden worked out of a jam in the bottom half of the ninth.
Twins starter Scott Baker tossed seven scoreless innings, but the effort was wasted as Minnesota lost for the sixth time in seven games.
The Twins' troubles started after Alex Burnett took over for Baker and allowed the Bourjos single before walking Maicer Izturis. The left-handed Dusty Hughes then came in to pitch, and the switch-hitting Aybar shifted to the right side of the plate.
Hughes quickly lost the battle. He threw a first-pitch fastball belt-high and over the plate, and Aybar crushed it beyond the left field fence.
"Aybar really came through with a big three-run jack, kind of lifted us up," Angels right fielder Torii Hunter said. "We were pretty jacked-up in the dugout, jumping up and down, cracking jokes. It loosened up the dugout a little bit."
Bobby Abreu followed with a base hit before Jim Hoey (0-2) took the mound. Hoey gave up a double to Hunter, an RBI infield single to Alberto Callaspo, and a sacrifice fly to Russell Branyan that made it a 5-5 game.
Consecutive groundouts ended the inning, but the damage was done.
Fernando Rodney and Scott Downs (3-1) combined to throw a scoreless bottom half, though only after avoiding disaster. With Danny Valencia on second base and two away, Alexi Casilla hit a fly ball to right field. Hunter and Bourjos both went for the catch, resulting in them bobbling the ball before Hunter secured it.
Hoey then went back out for the ninth and gave up Bourjos' triple. The speedy outfielder hit the ball to left and raced around the bases, beating the throw by a few steps. Izturis followed with a base hit to give the Angels the lead.
Michael Cuddyer smacked a two-out single in the home ninth -- the 1,000th hit of his career -- before Trevor Plouffe singled to third. But Walden got Delmon Young to fly out to right to end the game and secure his 11th save.
"It was definitely a tough one to swallow tonight," Twins center fielder Denard Span said. "We have to have that game. We had a big lead and just to lose in that fashion was frustrating, and just draining."
Angels starter Tyler Chatwood pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (three earned).
Casilla put Minnesota on the board with a first-inning RBI double, and tripled in the third before crossing the plate on Jason Kubel's base hit.
Valencia reached on Aybar's fielding error to lead off the fifth, and the Twins went on to load the bases with one away. Kubel's two-run single made it a 4-0 contest.
Chatwood nearly gave up another run when Thome began the sixth by belting a long drive to center. But Bourjos tracked the ball, timed his jump well, and snagged the ball as it fell toward the fence.
Justin Morneau's RBI single in the seventh put the Twins ahead by five.
Game Notes
Chatwood allowed eight hits, walked three and struck out two...Baker gave up six hits and fanned six...Hunter and Callaspo both finished with three hits...Casilla's three hits all went for extra bases (two doubles, one triple)...Minnesota won five of seven meetings in 2010.
- LOS ANGELES: 6
MINNESOTA: 5
Final
May 27 11:32 PM - Phil Dumatrait enters the game for the Twins with a runner on first and none out.
Angels 6, Twins 5 Top 9, 0 OutsMay 27 11:15 PM - Russell Branyan sacrifice fly to left scored Torii Hunter with one out. On the play, Alberto Callaspo advances to second. Runner on second and Mark Trumbo due up.
Angels 5, Twins 5 Top 8, 1 OutMay 27 10:50 PM - Alberto Callaspo infield single to second scored Bobby Abreu with none out. On the play, Torii Hunter advances to third. Runners on first and third and Russell Branyan due up.
Angels 4, Twins 5 Top 8, 0 OutsMay 27 10:47 PM - Bobby Abreu infield single to center, deflected by second. Runner on first with none out and Torii Hunter due up.
Angels 3, Twins 5 Top 8, 0 OutsMay 27 10:39 PM - Justin Morneau single to right scored Alexi Casilla with one out. Runner on first and Michael Cuddyer due up.
Angels 0, Twins 5 Bot 7, 1 OutMay 27 10:19 PM - Jason Kubel single to center scored Danny Valencia and Denard Span with one out. On the play, Alexi Casilla advances to second. Runners on first and second and Justin Morneau due up.
Angels 0, Twins 4 Bot 5, 1 OutMay 27 9:35 PM - Justin Morneau grounded into a double play, second to short to first. On the play, Jason Kubel out at second to end the inning.
Angels 0, Twins 2 End 3May 27 9:05 PM - Alexi Casilla double to left scored Denard Span with none out. Runner on second and Jason Kubel due up.
Angels 0, Twins 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsMay 27 8:31 PM - LOS ANGELES: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
Top 1, 2 Outs
May 27 8:17 PM
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