The Twins stopped their modest two-game slide on Tuesday night, as they put up eight runs between the fourth and fifth innings to defeat the Colorado Rockies 9-3 at Coors Field.
The game got off to a bit of an auspicious start for Twins' starter Carl Pavano, as he allowed a solo home run to Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with two out in the top of the first. Colorado manage to scratch out another run in the top of the third on Carlos Gonzalez's triple to right field. After that, however, Minnesota's offense took off against Rockies starter Aaron Cook.
The Twins sent ten men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Joe Mauer led things off with a single, and Justin Morneau followed up with a walk. Michael Cuddyer then doubled to score Mauer, After Morneau got thrown out at home attempting to score on a grounder by Jason Kubel, Delmon Young brought Cuddyer home on a single, and Danny Valencia singled to load the bases.
Nick Punto. . .yes, that Nick Punto. . .brought home two runs with a solid single to center, scoring Kubel and Young, and Valencia came in to score on Denard Span's single to right. After a walk to Matt Tolbert, Cook's evening was finished, as he was lifted for Franklin Morales. Morales managed to get Mauer to ground into a double play to end the inning, but the Twins had taken a 5-2 lead.
In the fourth, Cuddyer drew a one-out walk, and Kubel followed that up with his 9th home run of the year to make it 7-3. Span drove in another run before the fourth concluded, and Tolbert tacked on a leadoff homer in the eighth to give us the final margin of 9-3.
The series between the Twins and the Rockies continues tomorrow night at Target Field, as the Rockies send young Jhoulys Chacin (3-5, 4.04 ERA) to the mound against the Twins, who will counter with Scott Baker (5-5, 4.81). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM Central Time.
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