Twins top Mariners in 11 innings
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Mauer's go-ahead two-run triple in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Minnesota Twins over the Seattle Mariners 4-2 in the finale of a three-game set.
Tyler Olson (1-1) walked Chris Herrmann to start the frame and walked Brian Dozier intentionally after Danny Santana bunted Herrmann to second. Two batters later, Mauer ripped a triple into the gap in right-center to bring Herrmann and Dozier home.
Glen Perkins blanked the Mariners in the bottom half to earn his fifth save of the season. Casey Fien (1-1) tossed a scoreless 10th to earn the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We always talk about winning series, and to win a series on the road is definitely a good thing," Mauer said.
Mauer also added an RBI double among his three hits for the Twins, who have won three of their last four games.
Seth Smith smacked a solo homer for Seattle, which has dropped four of its last six contests.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Twins jumped out to a 2-0 lead after plating a run in the first and another in the third.
Shane Robinson worked a one-out walk in the first and Mauer followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Trevor Plouffe's base hit to center plated Robinson.
Robinson led off the third with a single and scored on Mauer's two-bagger to left-center.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon was tossed in the top of the fourth inning. He said he was unhappy on a potential strike-three call on Robinson in the third.
"He had strike three, and the guy gets a double and a run scores," McClendon said.
Seattle pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth to tie the game. Smith's leadoff shot to right cut the deficit in half. Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz walked and both advanced into scoring position when Kyle Seager bounced one to first. Logan Morrison's ground out plated Cano.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Minnesota starter Kyle Gibson allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over seven-plus innings, while M's starter Roenis Elias surrendered two runs on six hits and three walks over 5 2/3 frames ... Cano had his 11-game hitting streak snapped ... Seattle was 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.