Walker, Cruz lead Mariners to 6-1 win over Twins

In Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer and Martin Perez allowed only two hits to earn his first win in his comeback from elbow surgery.

Instead, the Twins rode with Kurt Suzuki, and Saturday night the veteran catcher rewarded them for that faith. “I put a nice, easy swing on it”, Morrison said, “and barreled it up”. “This guy, he’s got a great repertoire and when it’s on, it’s on”. “But sometimes it goes a little extra”.

It didn’t matter that the house run was exclusively the Twins’ second hit towards Seattle or that it was the group’s eighth hit over three video games spanning 85 at-bats.

“It doesn’t really hurt unless I get jammed, so I’m glad I didn’t get jammed, ” Morrison said. The Twins acquired RHP Kevin Jepsen from the Tampa Bay Rays for two minor-league pitchers. For Walker (8-7), who entered with an 8.02 ERA in his four previous starts, it was his first victory since pitching six shutout innings against San Diego on July 1.

Twins: CF Byron Buxton (left thumb) took early batting practice, with manager Paul Molitor calling it “a very good day”. “No sense trying to overanalyze things”. “We didn’t use the whole field, which you need to do against a guy like that when he’s not throwing particularly hard”.

In his last three starts, Tommy Milone is 0-2, logging 14.2 innings, allowing 20 hits and 13 ER.

Nelson Cruz homered for Seattle (47-58), a 446-foot shot in the sixth inning. Although Marte failed to get a hit – seeing just eight pitches in his first four plate appearances – he did draw a six-pitch walk in the top of the ninth and came around to score on Cruz’s long ball. Milone is 3-4 with a 3.48 ERA in nine career starts against Seattle and has enjoyed success against designated hitter Mark Trumbo (2-for-18, eight strikeouts) and center fielder Austin Jackson (1-for-10).WALK-OFFS1.

Blue Jays 7, Royals 6, 11 innings: Josh Donaldson singled home Troy Tulowitzki in the 11th inning and new-look Toronto rallied to beat Kansas City as Johnny Cueto failed to get a decision in his Royals’ debut. Minor league left-hander Caleb Thielbar was designated for assignment to make room for Jepsen on the 40-man roster. Minnesota will play seven games away from Target Field, opening the road trip in Toronto against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Smith was in trouble from the beginning when Miguel Sano ambushed a fastball and lined it into the right-field corner for a leadoff double. His ERA has jumped from 1.77 to 2.81.

Cruz had four hits, including his 27th home run of the season, and Montero added two hits and two RBIs after being recalled from Triple-A following a series of moves by Seattle before Friday’s trade deadline. But Smith uncorked his second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Robinson to scamper home from third, tying the game.

“If we have a lead (Sunday) in the ninth inning”, Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said, “he’ll be back out there”. “It kind of lightens the mood a little bit”.

The walk-off victory was the Twins’ fifth this season and first of the second half. As much as the Twins are a team to be respected and feared right now, they are only going to get better. The Twins loaded the bases with one out in the third, but he was able to escape the jam. First baseman Joe Mauer hit a sharp ground ball to second baseman Ketel Marte that the rookie bobbled but had enough time to start a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.