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McDonald delivers game-winner as Jays edge Twins

Sep 4, 2008 - 4:44 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The first time John McDonald had a chance to win the game for the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday he struck out with the winning run on second base in the bottom of the ninth.

Two innings later, McDonald got a second chance and delivered, ripping a deep RBI single to center field in the 11th inning to lift the Blue Jays to a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Scott Rolen led off by lining a double to left-center off Minnesota reliever Eddie Guardado. Travis Snider followed with a flare single that dropped in front of Twins outfielder Jason Kubel. That was all for Guardado (3-4), who was replaced by Boof Bonser. He didn't fare any better, as McDonald drove a long fly ball over the head of Denard Span to give Toronto the win.

"It didn't work out on the last at-bat for me," McDonald said. "We had some opportunities, I'm up there looking to hit that first fastball. He did me a little bit of a favor by throwing the first one high and let me sit there and wait for the next one."

Rookie Jesse Carlson (6-1) pitched a perfect 11th to pick up the win.

The Blue Jays almost didn't get a chance at the victory, but Minnesota's recurring defensive lapses kept giving them opportunities. Down 3-2 in the seventh, Nick Punto's throwing error on Rolen's grounder allowed Kevin Mench to score the tying run from second.

"They just never quit tonight," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "Of course, we caught a few breaks here and there. But they've been doing that all year since I've been here."

After Minnesota designated hitter Brendan Harris singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth, Joe Nathan had a chance to close it - and pull the Twins into a dead heat with the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central - but fell victim to another fielding gaffe, this time by right fielder Jason Pridie.

Snider lined a single to right, sending Curtis Thigpen into scoring position with two outs. But Pridie mishandled a high bounce off the Rogers Centre turf and the ball rolled several yards behind him to allow Thigpen to score the tying run.

"It's just a case of bad luck," Nathan said. "We've had some things happen I haven't seen in a while, so there's really nothing to say about it. It's just a case of bad luck."

McDonald struck out to end the threat but made up for it in the 11th.

Toronto starter A.J. Burnett lasted 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight to increase his AL-leading total to 201. After cruising through six, he ran into trouble in the seventh, loading the bases before being relieved by Scott Downs.

The first batter Downs faced was All-Star Joe Mauer, who a drove a bases-clearing double into the left-center field gap to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage.

Burnett was charged with three runs and six hits while walking four.

Nick Blackburn, who remained winless in his last five starts, hurled 6 2/3 frames for the Twins, striking out six without a walk. He gave up two runs and six hits.

"I felt a lot better today," Blackburn said. "I felt more like what I've been trying to do. I was confident with all my pitches, I felt sharp. It's ... where I've been trying to get until this point, and I felt everything was clicking."

With the loss, the Minnesota (77-62) remained one game behind Chicago (78-61) in the AL Central and five games behind the Boston Red Sox (82-57) in the wild-card race.