MINNEAPOLIS _ Twins manager Paul Molitor has not wavered from his approach. Every game is big right now, so why pretend that some are more important than others?
"We like to quantify groups of games, homestands, road trips, and there's some merit to that," Molitor said. "It is a about winning today's game, wherever the location or whatever circumstances might be."
Still, the Twins needed to win Sunday to split the four-game series against Toronto before heading to the Bronx for three games against the Yankees, currently their wild card neighbor.
They didn't want to go there following three losses in four games to the Blue Jays, but that scenario stared seemed likely after two innings on Sunday when Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson put them in a 5-0 hole by losing any ability to throw strikes _ and throwing not one, but two gopher balls to Josh Donaldson.
One thing these Twins have done all season is to avoid the big skid, and they did it again Sunday, scoring seven runs in the second inning to take the lead, then burying Toronto with six runs in the fifth, including Joe Mauer's grand slam. They went on to win 13-7 at Target Field before embarking on their journey to The Big Apple and a series with New York that carries postseason implications for both teams.
But first, they had to take care of Toronto. It was wasn't easy.
Josh Donaldson continued his assault on Twins pitching with a monster home run in the first inning. He crushed a 1-0 pitch from Gibson so hard that the entire Twins defense didn't budge. The first player to move was Eddie Rosario, and that was to tie a shoelace.
Gibson proceeded to walk four batters in the inning, forcing Nick Turley to start warming up. A two-run single by Raffy Lopez made it 4-0. Gibson came back out for the second and promptly gave up another home run to Donaldson, making it 5-0. Donaldson hit five home runs in the series. Turley resumed warming up.
But the Twins came alive in the bottom of the inning. Eddie Rosario and Bryon Buxton hit back-to-back homers off of Joe Biagini. Brian Dozier hit a RBI single. Two runs scored when Ryan Goins misplayed Mauer's ground ball. Dozier scored on a fielder's choice, and Rosario added an RBI single to put the Twins ahead 7-5.
The Twins scored six more in the fifth. Escobar singled, stole second, moved to third on an errant throw then scored on Jason Castro's single. Robbie Grossman walked, then Dozier noticed Donaldson playing back at third and bunted for a hit to load the bases for Mauer.
Toronto's Chris Rowley got ahead of Mauer 0-2 and threw a fastball that was inside and off the plate. But Mauer opened up and hammered it over the seats in right for the fourth grand slam of his career _ first time ever in Minnesota.
Rosario added a solo homer, his second of the game, as the Twins took a 13-5 lead.
Gibson benefited from another offensive outburst. He started the Sept. 2 game when the Twins beat the Royals 17-0 and also Tuesday's game when they beat San Diego 16-0.
The Twins have homered in 16 consecutive games for the second time this season, tying the record first set in 1979. They also have 74 home run since Aug. 8, the most in baseball. They have reached double digits in runs scored nine times during that period. That is a startling stat, given that their best home run hitter, Miguel Sano, has been on the disabled list since Aug. 20.
And now, Molitor can focus on the upcoming trip, which will include games against the Yankees and the AL Central champion Indians.
"We're facing a tough trip," Molitor said. "You go on the road in mid to late September and have to play 10 games. It's going to present its challenges. You combine where we are at with that."
