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Minnesota Twins try to rebound from last night's discouraging loss to the
Seattle Mariners when the two teams continue a three- game set this evening at Safeco Field.
Minnesota took a five-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of Monday's series opener, but the Mariners erupted for 10 unanswered runs to rally for an 11-6 victory and knock the Twins out of sole possession of first place in the American League Central.
Raul Ibanez began the comeback with a grand slam off Twins starter Glen Perkins that cut Seattle's deficit to 6-5. The outfielder later capped the Mariners' huge inning with a two-run single.
Ibanez's six RBI in a single inning established a new club record, breaking the old mark of five set by Ken Griffey Jr. on April 29, 1999.
Both Ibanez and Jose Lopez finished 3-for-5 to lead Seattle to their second straight triumph. Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and scored twice on the evening.
Roy Corcoran (2-0) received the win after working a scoreless top of the seventh. Jake Woods threw three shutout innings of relief in front of Corcoran to aid the Mariners' comeback.
Justin Morneau went 2-for-3 with a two-run double for Minnesota, which also received a solo home run from Nick Punto.
Monday's loss dropped the Twins into a first-place tie with idle Chicago in the Central standings. Both teams lead third-place Detroit by 6 1/2 games.
Minnesota will attempt to even this series behind Scott Baker, who enters tonight's matchup having won five of his last six decisions. Over that eight- start stretch, the right-hander has allowed three runs or less runs six times.
Baker did give up four runs in his six-inning stint against the rival White Sox on Thursday, but did strike out eight batters and wound up with a no- decision in a 10-6 Minnesota win.
The 26-year-old is still searching for his first career victory over the Mariners, having gone 0-2 with a 4.34 earned run average in his three previous encounters with Seattle. Baker is 4-2 with a 4.14 ERA in nine road starts this year.
Journeyman R.A. Dickey makes his 11th start of the season tonight for Seattle. The veteran right-hander regrouped from a rough outing at Toronto on July 26 with a very good one in Thursday's 8-5 road win over Texas. In that game, Dickey held the hard-hitting Rangers to two runs and six hits over a season- high 7 2/3 innings to win for the first time since June 24.
Prior to that start, Dickey was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits in just 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Blue Jays.
The 33-year-old has faced Minnesota three times previously, twice as a starter, and gone 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA versus tonight's opener. However, Dickey hasn't pitched against the Twins since the 2004 season.
Monday's matchup marked the first 2008 meeting between the Twins and Mariners. Minnesota went 6-3 against Seattle last season and took five of the six games played at Safeco Field.
