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Cuddyer keys five-run uprising, lifts Twins

Jun 15, 2008 - 4:25 AM By J.R. Radcliffe PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins overcame a game-tying home run by Milwaukee Brewers pinch hitter Russell Branyan with two outs in the ninth, scoring five times in the 12th to notch a 9-4 victory at Miller Park on Saturday.

Michael Cuddyer, who sat out most of the game with a bruised hand, delivered a two-run triple in the 12th and scored on Mike Cameron's throwing error to cap the rally in exciting fashion. Brian Buscher's two-run single earlier in the frame against Julian Tavarez (0-1) gave the Twins a 6-4 advantage.

After Joe Nathan retired the first two batters quietly in the ninth, Branyan's 415-foot shot to center handed the closer his second blown save of the year, but Minnesota regrouped after clean innings of relief by Matt Guerrier and Brian Bass (3-2).

"I don't know what to make of that ballgame," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Lots of excitement, lots of missed opportunities. Someone's going to have to win, and we came through with some big hits. Too many things happened in that game to try and figure it all out."

Tavarez, who wormed out of a bases loaded, one-out situation in the 11th, surrendered an infield single and two walks to the first three hitters of the 12th. After Delmon Young grounded into a fielder's choice, Buscher laced a shot to center.

"Everybody wants to be in that situation, and luckily I got through," Buscher said.

Cuddyer provided icing on the cake, receiving a rousing applause from the ample Twins fan contingent in Milwaukee's home stadium as he strolled to the plate for his pinch hit appearance with runners at the corners and two outs.

"Cuddy was an emergency," Gardenhire said. "I guess that's an emergency. It's either let the pitcher hit or him hit, or use your last catcher. If I had known he would swing like that, I might have used him in the eighth, ninth or 10th."

Prince Fielder lined a long fly ball to center field against Matt Guerrier in the 10th that Milwaukee contended was a home run, but umpires conferred and ruled the ball hit off the top of the wall. Fielder settled for a triple, and Cameron grounded out to end the inning.

"I saw it as it bounced off the wall and came back; I thought it hit the top of the fence," Gardenhire said, a sentiment confirmed by television replays. "If they had ruled differently ... I don't think I can get kicked out if the game is over, can I?"

The Twins scored runs in each of the final three innings to stage a rally, getting some help from the Brewers defense to head into the ninth with a 4-3 lead. Buscher lined a single leading off the ninth, and the ball skipped past right fielder Corey Hart to the wall for a two-base error. Brendan Harris delivered a sacrifice fly one batter later.

"In right field especially, the sun doesn't get in that grass, and at times the roots are real shallow and the ball will skip," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "Our outfielders know it, and it's more an advantage to our guys than the guys who come in on the road, but that ball hit and skipped."

Buscher finished with a career-high three RBI and tied a career mark with three hits.

"I was two steps away from looking down at first (base)," Buscher said of the Hart miscue. "I saw him miss it, and I knew it got to the wall."

Justin Morneau tied the game in the eighth with an opposite-field single against lefty specialist Brian Shouse, and Buscher's sacrifice fly in the seventh pulled the Twins within 3-2.

Brewers starter Jeff Suppan allowed three earned runs or fewer for the seventh time in eight starts, permitting two scores on seven hits in seven innings. The righthander has compiled an 1.90 ERA over his last five outings, lowering his season mark to 3.68, and he left Saturday's game with a one-run lead.

"When you face a team like this, they can beat you a lot of different ways," Suppan said. "For the most part, I was able to keep the ball down and got some nice double plays in there. I was able to work some soft pitches in there, so overall I thought I was changing speeds the way I want to."

Left fielder Ryan Braun launched his club-best 18th home run to give the Brewers a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

Twins starter Glen Perkins allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings, tying a career-high with six strikeouts.

"It was a roller coaster ride," Perkins said. "But that's a good win right there."