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Morneau leads Twins past Angels

Jul 21, 2007 - 4:37 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Justin Morneau did not disappoint on his own Bobblehead night.

Last season's American League Most Valuable Player homered, drove in three runs and scored a pair to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 7-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Twins and featured more runs in the first three innings than Minnesota scored in all of its three losses to the Detroit Tigers combined.

"It's about time," Morneau said. "It was good. We got down early but battled back. (Angels starter John Lackey) is always tough on us."

As for those who camped outside overnight to obtain his Bobblehead Doll?

"Yeah, it was crazy," Morneau said. "There were people lined up last night in tents. It was a good day not to disappoint."

The Twins' lackluster offense received a blow when cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb prior to the game.

When the Angels took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning with ace Lackey on the mound, Minnesota's plight worsened considerably.

But Morneau hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half and Minnesota took advantage of Macier Izturis' fielding error to plate two more runs as Jason Kubel tripled to bring home Morneau and Torii Hunter.

"When you're facing Lackey, it's pretty tough going," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "That first one, knocking in a run was huge. Everyone went, 'Yeah.' Then we went from there."

The Twins fell behind again in the third inning, when their own defense betrayed them.

After Chone Figgins walked, Vladimir Guerrero laced a one-out single to right. Rookie Darnell McDonald, who was making his major league debut, made a throwing error on the play, allowing the runners to advance.

Garret Anderson followed with a two-run double down the right field line, putting Anaheim back on top, 4-3.

But Minnesota used five hits in the bottom of the inning to put four runs on the board and never looked back. Jason Bartlett singled to lead off the inning and Morneau hit a two-run homer two batters later.

Hunter and Kubel followed with singles and, after a walk and a strikeout, Lackey gave up a two-run single by Nick Punto.

Lackey (12-6) lasted just five innings, his shortest outing in his last five starts. He allowed seven runs - five earned - and 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout.

"John never really got settled with what he wanted to do on the mound," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "What he's been good at is bending, not breaking. Today, there were two big innings that don't really happen to him very often."

The Angels cut the deficit to two in the fourth inning as Izturis doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly to foul territory in left field by Figgins.

But Minnesota starter Carlos Silva (8-10) allowed only a pair of singles to the next 11 batters he faced, and the Twins' bullpen held the Angels scoreless the rest of the way. Joe Nathan tossed a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.

"I was all over the place, and the balls they would hit... They hit some balls that weren't very good," Silva said. "The only thing I tried to do was stay in the game and pitch my game."

Kubel went 3-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI, a walk and a stolen base. He is 6-for-7 in his last two games.

"I'm feeling good, comfortable, kind of confident," Kubel said. "I'm just seeing the ball good."

The teams combined for four errors, and there were several other miscues as well.

"Anytime you come to a baseball game, you're bound to see something every night," Figgins said.

Figgins scored twice and drove in a run and Mike Napoli had three hits for the Angels, who are just 3-7 in their last 10 road games.