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Long ball shortens memories

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Justin Morneau's final swing capped a five-hit day in Detroit and erased the stain of a confidence-zapping sweep at Fenway.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 11, 2008 - 5:10 PM

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TWINS 7, DETROIT 6 (11 INNINGS)

Up next: 6:05 p.m. today at Detroit • Comerica Park • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

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DETROIT - The Twins left Boston after three losses, trying to remind themselves that short memories get teams through tough series and blowouts.

Midway through Thursday's 7-6, 11-inning victory against the Tigers, the Twins trailed by four runs, were staring at a fourth consecutive loss and three blown leads in the past four games. Another loss, and it would have been hard to ignore what was accumulating.

"It seemed like there was a little bit [of a letdown]," Twins slugger Justin Morneau said of the mood on the bench. "We got beat up pretty bad [in Boston]. All of a sudden, [Detroit] has a big inning and it deflates you a little bit.

"In the dugout, we said try to get two runs first and get back in it instead of trying to get four."

And the Twins responded. The bullpen proved it had a short memory. Morneau swung the bat like the former Most Valuable Player he is. Denard Span and Nick Punto hit like Rod Carew. Joe Nathan escaped danger better than David Blaine.

The Twins emerged from their predicament, with Morneau's solo homer to right in the 11th inning off Freddy Dolsi the winning blow. Righthander Matt Guerrier, who was torched by the Red Sox in the eighth inning Tuesday, pitched the final two innings Thursday for the victory, which ensured the Twins will enter the All-Star break in second place in the AL Central.

The home run capped a 5-for-5 day for Morneau, matching a career high. He is 11-for-16 in his past four games.

"We just didn't get him out at all today," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "He hit everything we threw up there."

Morneau, Punto and Span combined to go 12-for-13, with Span and Punto coming through in the ninth against Tigers closer Todd Jones and the Twins trailing by two.

Punto singled to left for his third hit of the game. Span singled to right for his fourth hit, and when the ball scooted by right fielder Matt Joyce and rolled to the wall, Punto scored and Span took third.

"The longest run I've ever had," Joyce said. "I don't think I ran faster in my entire life, either. I just have a picture of a dog running, with its tail between its legs."

Joe Mauer pinch hit for Carlos Gomez and hit a game-tying sacrifice fly.

Nathan entered in the bottom of the ninth -- and promptly walked the first two batters and threw a wild pitch as the announced sellout crowd of 41,952 cheered. Clete Thomas was intentionally walked with one out to load the bases. Nathan, however, recovered to strike out Jeff Larish and Ivan Rodriguez to clean up his mess.

"I was in center field like, 'Uh-oh, we're in trouble,'" Span said. "Before you know it, strike three, strike three. I went back to the dugout and didn't say anything to [Nathan]. I just looked at him and walked away because that was pretty impressive."

Morneau's homer, coming after his 425-foot double in the eighth hit the yellow line on top of the center-field wall and just missed going over, capped an exhilarating victory.

"A little better feeling in here than that last three days," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

No doubt. A greaseboard in the clubhouse summed up the mood.

"Bus 6:00 ... another laugher," it read.

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