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Dozier, Pelfrey lead Twins in blanking of Jays

Jul 7, 2013 - 1:07 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Brian Dozier had a three-run blast and four RBI to power the Minnesota Twins past the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Jamey Carroll and Joe Mauer knocked in a run apiece for the Twins, who won for the first time in July, snapping a six-game losing streak.

Making his first start since coming off the disabled list, Mike Pelfrey (4-6) had a solid performance, scattering just three hits with three walks in six scoreless innings. He earned a win for the first time in his last nine outings, dating back two months.

"Pelf got off to a bit of a rocky start with some walks, but got going and got on a pretty good run," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

After two stellar starts, R.A. Dickey (8-9) was dinged for six runs on seven hits and two walks. Dickey surrendered just two earned runs and eight hits over 16 innings in his two pervious outings.

Maicer Izturis registered three of the four hits for the Blue Jays, who have lost four of their last five.

The Twins put three runs on the board in the third inning.

After Chris Parmelee doubled and advanced to third on an Aaron Hicks base hit, he was caught in-between third and home on a Eduardo Escobar ground ball to Dickey. Hicks and Escobar moved up a base on a passed ball. Dozier's ground out to second scored Hicks. Carroll ripped a two-out double down third baseline to score another run and Mauer followed with an RBI single to center to make it 3-0.

Dozier crushed a one-out fastball to deep left for a three-run shot in the seventh to double the cushion at six.

"It's just kind of been my bane this year, the home run ball," said Dickey. "A three-run home run is tough to overcome when you've already given up three (runs)."

Toronto's best opportunity to score came in the first inning. After recording two outs in the first, Pelfrey walked the next three batters to load the bases, but was able to get Rajai Davis to ground out to end the inning.

Game Notes

Oswaldo Arcia stole his first major league base in the sixth ... Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes snapped an eight-game hitting streak, going 0-for-4 ... Minnesota broke a nine game winless streak against the AL East ... The Twins are just 2-8 in their last 10 at Rogers Centre ... Toronto was 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position, while Minnesota finished 4-for-8 ... This was the fourth shutout for the Twins this season.