Small ball sparks Twins sweep

Ted S. Warren, Associated Press

Johan Santana throws against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.

A five-run seventh -- started by three bunts -- made a winner of Johan Santana and gave the Twins their first Seattle sweep since 1996.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: April 19, 2007 - 10:17 PM

SEATTLE - The last time the Twins swept the Mariners in Seattle, the game was played in the old Kingdome and the Twins' roster included names such as Jose Parra, Jeff Reboulet, Scott Klingenbeck and Rich Becker.

With ace lefthander Johan Santana on the mound Thursday, the Twins seemed a lock for their first sweep here since August 1996.

But Santana doesn't hit, you know. And the men who swing the maple and ash have at times lacked the ability to bash.

Perhaps that's why the Twins went micro instead of macro to beat Seattle 6-5 and secure that coveted sweep.

The Twins held off a late comeback when Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Pat Neshek. Closer Joe Nathan came in and gave up a sun-aided double to Richie Sexson but struck out Jose Guillen to end the game.

"We needed every one of those runs," said Mike Redmond, the Twins designated hitter on Thursday. "It's tough to sweep teams."

The Twins trailed 2-1 for four innings before a five-run seventh inning gave them their fourth victory in five games.

Jason Bartlett led off the seventh with a bunt single down the third base line. Alexi Casilla, who earlier came into the game for hobbled Luis Castillo, followed with a bunt so well-placed he beat it out for a hit. Nick Punto followed with a bunt, too -- but it was a sacrifice that moved the runners over.

"You put yourself in position and they make decisions on what they have to do, and that's what you have to do," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've got Johan Santana pitching and we figure if we can tie the game up he's going to give us an opportunity to win."

Seattle intentionally walked Joe Mauer, loading the bases for Michael Cuddyer, who had stranded two runners on base in each of his previous two at-bats. Julio Mateo replaced Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn.

But Cuddyer clubbed a two-run double off the left field wall, giving the Twins a 3-2 lead.

"You get a lot of satisfaction," Cuddyer said of finally coming through. "With the two guys I hit between [Mauer and Justin Morneau], I get a chance for a lot of satisfaction."

Morneau also was intentionally walked, but Redmond dumped a single just inside the right field foul line to score two more runs for a 5-2 lead. Another run scored when Josh Rabe bounced into a fielder's choice.

"Just like any competitor, when they walk Morneau in front of you, you want to make them pay," Redmond said.

That ended all thoughts that the offense was going to waste another good outing by Santana (3-1). The defending American League Cy Young Award winner gave up an unearned run in the first and a home run to Yuniesky Betancourt in the third but finished up retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he faced.

"Even though we had some opportunities to score runs early in the game and it didn't happen, I didn't give up," Santana said. "I stayed with it and tried to hold it up and wait for my teammates to get something going, and that's what happened."

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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