Twins: Bloop hit looks perfectly good

A solid outing in which Scott Baker struck out nine kept the Twins in the game, so that Jeff Cirillo could win it with a 12th-inning single.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 27, 2007 - 12:31 AM

Mike Redmond was walked intentionally to load the bases with two out in the 12th inning on Tuesday night at the Metrodome. Jason Tyner was in the on-deck circle but was called back to the dugout.

Could it be? Could Justin Morneau make a stunning return for one big at-bat, bruised lung and all?

Nope. Wrong injured player.

Out hobbled Jeff Cirillo, creaky knees and all, to face Toronto lefthander Brian Tallet. Cirillo got enough of a changeup to have it drop between diving Blue Jays fielders and allow Michael Cuddyer to score the winning run in a 2-1 Twins victory.

Cirillo has had surgery on his left knee and a cortisone shot in his right knee since the season began. Both were wrapped in ice when he emerged from the trainer's room after the 3-hour, 15-minute game.

But Cirillo also is batting .324 against lefties, a big reason why the Twins signed him as a free agent during the offseason.

"It was one of those games everyone, i.e. the media, TV and everyone who works at the stadium, wants to go home," Cirillo said. "There were a lot of people excited that the ball fell in."

Twins righthander Scott Baker pitched one of the best games of his young career, holding the Blue Jays to one run over seven innings on four hits while walking one and striking out a career-high nine batters. The Twins needed a strong outing because they were baffled by Toronto righthander Shaun Marcum and his breaking balls for eight innings.

The Twins led 1-0 on Jason Kubel's run-scoring double in the seventh. Torii Hunter tried to make it 2-0 that inning when he tagged up from third on Redmond's fly out to right. Blue Jays catcher Gregg Zaun caught Alex Rios' throw up the third base line and tagged out Hunter as he tried to slip by.

Hunter argued the call with umpire Mike Winters, but Gardenhire stepped in between them and soon was tossed for the fourth time this season and 32nd of his career.

"Mike is a good umpire," Gardenhire said. "He made the right call. I just wanted to make sure his eyes were on me."

It was a big call as Toronto tied the score in the eighth inning on Howie Clark's sacrifice fly.

"It kind of went into a stalemate," Cuddyer said. "It was like no matter what you do, you can't push that run across."

Both bullpens dominated until the 12th, when Cuddyer got a one-out single and advanced to third on Lew Ford's two-out single. Ford took second on defensive indifference, and after Redmond was walked, up came Cirillo.

Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells was playing shallow and initially took a couple steps back when Cirillo made contact. Wells changed direction and charged in, but the ball fell in.

"I've done that before," Hunter said. "Your first reaction is to break back."

Soon, Cirillo was hoping his teammates would take it easy on him, sore knees and all, as they bounced around between first and second base.

"It's funny," Cirillo said. "You're celebrating a hit but it's a bloop hit. Whatever. Let's jump up and down and go home."

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

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