TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are within one win of returning the favor.
A questionable decision by second baseman Orlando Hudson paved the way for a five-run ninth inning as the Twins posted a 9-6 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Last weekend, a struggling Blue Jays' squad arrived in Minnesota and swept three games. When the Twins got to SkyDome on Friday, they had lost six straight games. But they righted the ship with a win in the series opener and can complete the sweep Sunday.
"We did some pretty good things today," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're starting to beat the ball around and play our game. That was a fun baseball game in that respect."
This game was deadlocked, 4-4, when Luis Rivas opened the ninth with a single off Kelvim Escobar (0-1). Jacque Jones followed with a base hit and Escobar uncorked a wild pitch. Denny Hocking walked to load the bases and, with the infield halfway, Corey Koskie bounced to Hudson. The Blue Jays' second baseman tried to get the forceout at the plate, but Rivas beat his throw.
"The biggest play of the game was Luis Rivas beating the play at home plate on the chopper to second," Gardenhire added. "That opened the door for a few more runs. He came flying in there, got a great jump and that was why it was the biggest play."
"I tried to do the best I can to be safe at home plate and it worked," Rivas said. "We hit the ball everywhere today and that's what we have to do. Just put the ball in play and see what happens."
Torii Hunter followed Koskie with a two-run single and Doug Mientkiewicz made it 9-4 with a double into left-center field.
"Not to make any excuses, but he was pitching in a situation where it was a tie game as opposed to a save situation," Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca. "That can have an effect as well as the fact he hasn't been getting work on a regular basis. Kelvim is a streaky guy and guys like him, those things can happen to."
"They hit very good pitches," Escobar said. "I didn't get it done today. I just have to put it in the back of my mind and get ready for tomorrow."
Tony Fiore gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Eddie Guardado came on to retire Mike Bordick and Dave Berg. Guardado's fourth save of the season preserved the win for LaTroy Hawkins (1-0).
Minnesota starter Brad Radke pitched well, allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings. He did struggle with his control, walking five and striking out three.
Both runs Radke surrendered came on solo homers. Eric Hinske hit his first of the season in the second and Frank Catalanotto hit his second of the year in the fifth.
J.C. Romero had a rough outing in relief of Radke, surrendering two runs in the seventh. Hawkins got the final out in the seventh and struck out two in a perfect eighth.
Toronto starter Pete Walker allowed a run and four hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out three in his first start of 2003.
Hinske was mired in a 2-for-28 slide when he lined a 2-1 pitch from Radke over the right field wall. Minnesota got even in the third on a two-out RBI double by Jones.
Toronto saw Vernon Wells thrown out at the plate to end the third but took a 2-1 lead on Catalanotto's homer in the fifth.
Mientkiewicz opened the seventh by greeting lefthanded specialist Doug Creek with a home run. Creek fell behind the next hitter, Bobby Kielty, and he homered to left for a 3-2 lead.
Romero started the seventh and had runners on the corners with two outs when Tom Wilson doubled to put the Blue Jays ahead, 4-3.
Wilson is 2-for-3 as a pinch hitter in 2003 after going 3-for-15 in the role last season.
Kielty's two-out RBI single in the eighth knotted the contest.
