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Twins use 6-run 8th to rally past Jays

Apr 18, 2014 - 6:37 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Kubel's two-run single served as the only hit during Minnesota's six-run eighth inning, as the Twins rallied for a 9-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays to complete a sweep of a day-night doubleheader at Target Field.

Toronto led 5-3 heading into the home half of the eighth, but Steve Delabar walked the first two hitters, and after Eduardo Nunez's sacrifice bunt, Sergio Santos took over on the mound and issued a free pass to Trevor Plouffe.

"I'm obviously one of the main guys to blame there. I put us in a bad situation," Delabar said. "That was brutal."

It was all down hill for Toronto from there, as Santos (0-1) fired three wild pitches and issued consecutive walks to push three runs across and give the Twins a 6-5 lead.

J.A. Happ then replaced Santos on the mound, but the Toronto left-hander walked Joe Mauer and Chris Colabello in succession to plate another run before Kubel clubbed a single to right to score two more for a 9-5 lead.

"It was a lot of fun in the dugout, because everybody was into it," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said of the late rally. "I don't know if you guys have seen it. Maybe in some other league, but I've never seen that before. That ball was flying everywhere."

Glen Perkins spun a perfect ninth to close out the victory, while Casey Fien (2-0) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

Colabello collected three hits and three RBI, while Brian Dozier stroked a solo home run and scored three times for the Twins, who claimed the opener of the twinbill by a 7-0 margin thanks to eight efficient innings from Kyle Gibson.

Jose Bautista belted a solo shot and scored twice for the Blue Jays, who went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.

The Blue Jays built their lead with a pair of runs in the first frame, as Melky Cabrera and Bautista walked around a Colby Rasmus strikeout before Edwin Encarnacion singled to left to score Cabrera. Dioner Navarro followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Bautista for a 2-0 lead.

Dozier opened the bottom of the frame with his fifth home run of the season, but Toronto tacked on three more runs in the fifth, beginning with Bautista's solo blast to left-center with one away in the inning.

Encarnacion followed with a walk and Navarro singled to right to chase Minnesota starter Mike Pelfrey from the contest.

Samuel Deduno took over on the mound and was greeted by Brett Lawrie, who looped a single to right to score Encarnacion. After Anthony Gose walked, Ryan Goins reached on Deduno's fielding error, allowing Navarro to score for a 5-1 lead.

Colabello clubbed a two-run double off Toronto starter Dustin McGowan in the home half of the frame to get the Twins within 5-3.

Game Notes

McGowan allowed three runs on six hits and four walks over four-plus frames, while Pelfrey permitted five runs -- four earned -- on four hits and five walks over 4 1/3 innings ... The Twins went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base ... Dozier recorded two stolen bases.