Twins Continue Their Reversal of Fortune

The Minnesota Twins are slowly showing the Cleveland Indians they can play with them.

Matt Kinney pitched into the seventh inning in his first appearance in a year, and the Twins sent the Indians to their fifth consecutive loss, 6-2, Saturday night at Minneapolis.

Doug Mientkiewicz and Torii Hunter hit solo homers for the Twins, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

After Cleveland won 14 of 19 between the teams last season and swept a four-game series from the Twins last week, has the momentum shifted to Minnesota?

“Not yet,” Doug Mientkiewicz said. “We can’t expect to come out tomorrow and throw our hats out and expect to win. Yes, we’re happy we took the series, but we’re not going to let down against them.”

Toronto 5, New York 4--Eric Hinske hit his first career home run in the 10th inning and the Blue Jays survived a stunning collapse to defeat the Yankees at New York.

Down to their last strike with no one on base, the Yankees rallied for three runs in the ninth off closer Kelvim Escobar to tie it at 4-4.

Dan Plesac (1-1) struck out a swinging Jason Giambi with the bases loaded to force extra innings.

Seattle 3, Texas 2--Dan Miceli walked Jeff Cirillo with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th inning as the Mariners staged another dramatic comeback to defeat the Rangers at Seattle.

It was Seattle’s ninth comeback victory of the season, and it came a night after the Mariners lost 9-0 to end a 10-game winning streak.

Carlos Guillen scored the winning run after Miceli walked Cirillo on a 3-1 pitch. Guillen hit a double off the left-field wall with one out in the inning.

Chicago 12, Detroit 5--Paul Konerko hit a grand slam and for the second time this week matched his career high with five RBIs to lead the White Sox at Chicago.

Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer and reached base five times for the White Sox, who have won nine of 11. Magglio Ordonez had three hits, including a solo shot, and Jose Valentin also homered. Konerko leads the AL with 21 RBIs.

Baltimore 6, Tampa Bay 3--Jason Johnson gave up three runs and six hits over seven innings in ending his losing streak over two seasons at nine games as the Orioles won at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Johnson (1-3) faced the minimum over his final 32/3 innings and earned his first victory since Aug. 6.

Boston at Kansas City, ppd.--The Red Sox and Royals were rained out at Kansas City, Mo., and will make up the game today as part of a doubleheader.