Twins turn lost fly ball into sweep

The latest big inning in a 6-0 homestand took off after the Twins caught a big break against Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: June 23, 2008 - 7:16 AM

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TWINS 5, ARIZONA 3

Up next: Three-game series at San Diego beginning at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday • TV: FSN (1500-FM)

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The Metrodome gods were back at work Sunday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

They rescued Delmon Young. They cursed Arizona left fielder Conor Jackson. They opened holes in the Diamondbacks defense behind Brandon Webb.

The Twins finished a three-game sweep and a 6-0 homestand with a 5-3 victory before an announced crowd of 31,497, leaving Jackson amazed at how fast the whole turnaround happened.

"Back pick, double play, boom -- five runs," Jackson said.

The big inning has become a surprising Twins signature of late. They have scored at least four runs in one inning in five consecutive games and climbed a season-best four games over .500, at 40-36.

This time, a critical fourth-inning error by Young helped Arizona build a 3-0 lead, and the Diamondbacks threatened to widen the gap when they put two runners aboard with nobody out in the fifth.

Then, Twins catcher Joe Mauer picked off Stephen Drew at second base. Then, Livan Hernandez got Orlando Hudson to ground into a double play, started and finished by first baseman Justin Morneau.

And then, boom.

The Twins scored five runs in their half of the fifth, after Jackson lost a ball from Young -- of all people -- in the Metrodome roof.

Young empathized with Jackson, who has started 58 games at first base this year and only six in left field.

"They need to get some bats in the lineup and give guys some rest," Young said. "Not being a true outfielder and then playing in this dome -- it's going to be even tougher."

Young had his own adventure in left field. In the third inning, he retreated on a ball hit by Jackson that landed in front of him for a single.

Two innings later, Chris Snyder singled to left with runners on first and second. Young charged, and the ball bounced right under his glove for an error. Two runs scored, and Snyder raced to third before scoring on a wild pitch by Hernandez (8-4).

"I was just trying to come up [on the ball] because a 1-0 game with Brandon Webb on the mound usually ends up 1-0," Young said.

Webb (11-4) has 45 victories since 2006, but when Jackson lost Young's ball in the roof, the Twins had runners on second and third with no outs.

Brian Buscher followed with a two-run single up the middle. Three batters later, Alexi Casilla hit another two-run single up the middle. After an error by Drew at shortstop, Justin Morneau's sacrifice fly made it 5-3.

"The Dome gods helped us out a little bit," Gardenhire said.

Buscher had another theory. He said the Twins gained confidence from their defensive work in the fifth -- Mauer's pickoff, and the terrific double play.

"We kind of took that momentum to the dugout," Buscher said.

Even against Webb, the Twins had the feeling another big inning was coming. They are 8-1 in their past nine games, while the National League West-leading Diamondbacks are 11-21 in their past 32.

"I don't know if it's a little cockiness or what," Buscher said. "The team we just played is a good team. We took three from them, it's pretty exciting knowing you can do that."