TORONTO (Ticker) -- Luis Rivas tripled home the tying run in the seventh and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Jacque Jones as the Minnesota Twins rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and snapped a six-game losing streak.
The Twins were trailing, 4-3, with one out in the seventh when Michael Cuddyer walked and scored on the triple by Rivas to left-center field off Cory Lidle (1-2). Doug Creek relieved and allowed the sacrifice fly to Jones.
"Our team hangs around," Jones said. "Our bullpen throws strikes and gives us a chance to win by putting pressure on the other team."
Corey Koskie drove in three runs for the Twins, with two coming on a double in the fourth. The third baseman also added an insurance run in the ninth on a bases loaded grounder.
Kenny Rogers (1-0) gave up four runs and four hits in six innings before LaTroy Hawkins, J.C. Romero and Eddie Guardado shut down Toronto. The relievers combined to allow just a hit in three scoreless innings.
"If we don't have the best bullpen in the game, then we're in the top two," Rogers said.
Lidle recorded a career-high nine strikeouts, but the Blue Jays dropped their second straight after winning five in a row.
"I felt good all night long early and late in the count," Lidle said. "I got too relaxed and left some fastballs up and, when you're facing the Twins, they are going to make you pay."
The Twins had been swept in a three-game series against the Blue Jays at the Metrodome before dropping three straight on the road against the New York Yankees.
Minnesota fell behind in the third on Friday. Shannon Stewart's RBI double and Frank Catalanotto's sacrifice fly opened a 2-0 lead for Toronto.
But the Twins answered in the top of the fourth. Jones and Cristian Guzman led off with back-to-back singles before Koskie doubled to deep left-center field to drive them home and tie it.
Koskie was on third with two outs when Matthew LeCroy drove him home with a double to right-center field, putting Minnesota in front, 3-2.
"It all came down to pitching," Koskie said. "Kenny threw the ball well and kept us in the ballgame. J.C., Eddy and LaTroy were great tonight, which is key for us. If our starters can go six or seven innings and we give them a lead, our bullpen will do a good job."
Toronto moved ahead again in the fifth. Mike Bordick singled to lead off and Stewart tripled him home to make it 3-3. Frank Catalanotto's single to center field knocked in Stewart and gave the Blue Jays a one-run advantage.
Then the Twins' relievers kept the Blue Jays in check and Minnesota's bats awoke.
"Our bullpen was fantastic, they really shut the door," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Kenny Rogers battled his (behind) off and that's what we expect from him. Overall, a pretty good night for us when we really needed a win. It's early in the season, but that's a morale booster."
