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Morneau, Silva lead Twins past Jays

May 27, 2007 - 9:37 PM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Leave it to the Canadian to inflict all the damage to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Reigning American League Most Valuable Player Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer and Carlos Silva snapped a personal four-game losing streak as the Minnesota Twins beat the Blue Jays, 4-2, in the rubber game of a three-game series on Sunday.

A British Columbia native, Morneau hit a sixth-inning blast that gave him four homers in his last five games and his third multi-RBI game in his last five contests. He finished Sunday's contest 2-for-3 with three RBI, and has driven in at least one run in seven straight games.

Morneau added a pair of defensive gems as well to propel Minnesota to its fourth victory in five games.

"It was the Morneau show," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "That's why he's the MVP."

"He got hit on the shin (in the second inning) and acted like a hockey player like it didn't hurt him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That ball was about 96 miles an hour and he got hit right on the shin and he acted like it didn't hurt. That was impressive itself."

Silva (3-5) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk to earn his first win since April 29. Silva had given up 16 earned runs in his previous four starts (23 1/3 innings pitched), all of which were losses.

His 7 1/3 innings pitched marked a season high and were a big boost to the Twins bullpen, which used all seven of its pitchers in Saturday night's 13-inning contest.

"I didn't have that on my mind," Silva said. "I was trying to pitch my game and what I was doing was working pretty good. But to give the bullpen a little break, especially after that game last night, was good."

"He kept us off-balance," Gibbons said. "He pitched better than the last few times we've seen him, no question about it."

Juan Rincon retired both hitters he faced in the eighth inning before Joe Nathan worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances this season.

Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett (5-4) gave up four runs - three earned - on three hits in eight innings for his second complete game of the seasons and 18th career. He had his personal three-game winning streak come to an end.

Burnett threw a season-high 125 pitches, the fifth time in 11 starts this year he has surpassed 110 pitches and the eighth time he has passed the century mark. It was his second complete game this season. After Saturday's extra-inning game, the Blue Jays needed it.

"I would have went two more if I had to," Burnett said.

"We had to have that," Gibbons said. "Burnett can do that. He's as strong as they come. He can throw a lot of pitches."

Burnett was spotted an early lead, as Frank Thomas walked with one out in the second inning and scored two batters later on Jason Phillips' single. But he gave the Twins some help in the third inning with a throwing error that allowed Minnesota to take the lead for good.

After a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases, Morneau hit a high chopper - a la teammate Luis Castillo. Burnett barehanded the ball when it came down, but sailed the already late throw to first over Lyle Overbay's head and into the Toronto bullpen, allowing both Nick Punto and Jeff Cirillo to score.

Morneau struck again in the sixth following a walk to Michael Cuddyer walk, blasting the first offering from Burnett 433 feet to the upper deck in right field.

"He was up over 90 pitches and we were trying to get into that bullpen and get the starter out of the game, especially a guy that good," Morneau said. "I was looking for one pitch in one spot right there and he gave me exactly what I wanted."

Burnett said he tried to go down and in on Morneau, but left the ball out over the plate.

"I made one bad pitch in eight innings and I paid for it," Burnett said.

Pinch hitter Adam Lind homered for Toronto to lead off the eighth inning and cut the Twins lead to two, but Rincon retired Vernon Wells and Matt Stairs after Overbay singled with one out to chase Silva.