MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays made up for lost time in the most unlikely of places.
Carlos Delgado homered and drove in four runs and Cory Lidle was superb over seven innings as the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, 8-1.
Toronto was hammered in its season-opening three-game series against New York at SkyDome. But unlike its series with New York, Toronto got good pitching in the Metrodome and swept a three-game series in Minnesota for the first time since September 17-19, 1993.
"It's good to sweep a team of this caliber in their own park," Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca said.
"The fans were all pumped up for a good weekend out of us and we did nothing," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Normally we win here. It's frustrating. We just got killed here, and maybe it's a little wake-up call. We'll just move on from here. Days like this are going to happen."
Delgado's second homer of the season staked the Blue Jays to a 2-0 lead and Toronto tacked on four runs in the third, highlighted by Delgado's two-run single.
"Playing against New York is over with and what's important is that we beat good teams now," Delgado said. "We did that, came out and played good baseball here. We had good hitting and good pitching, that's the bottom line. "
Lidle (1-1) allowed one run and six hits, walked one and struck out seven. He avenged a rough outing in the season's second game.
"Everything was working today," Lidle said. "I felt real good, real comfortable. I just stuck to my plan. It's good to stay in your comfort zone."
Minnesota starter Brad Radke (1-1) was tagged for a career-high eight runs and 10 hits in three-plus innings.
"It was an ugly weekend," Radke said. "We didn't play real well. It would have been nice to get some wins, but you're going to run into series like these. Hopefully we can put on a better show next time."
Frank Catalanotto singled with one out in the first but Radke got Vernon Wells on a forceout. Delgado then drilled a 1-1 pitch over the center field wall for a 2-0 lead.
Chris Woodward, Shannon Stewart and Catalanotto opened the third inning with singles to load the bases and Wells walked on a 3-2 pitch to force home a run. Delgado singled home two runs and Greg Myers capped the outburst with a two-out run-scoring single.
Delgado went 6-for-13 in the series.
"I felt good against them," Delgado said. "The first few games of the season I was a little jumpy. It was just a matter of getting my at-bats and not thinking too much. I have to stay aggressive."
"He's a veteran guy. He puts up good numbers. He'll have a big year," Tosca added.
The top of the lineup got Toronto going in the fourth. Woodward opened the inning with a single and Stewart doubled. Catalanotto made it 8-0 with a long double, finishing Radke.
Chris Gomez's single that scored Jacque Jones in the sixth capped the scoring.
Prior to Friday, the Blue Jays had lost six straight overall against Minnesota.
