Twins 4, Blue Jays 3
Danny Valencia doubled and homered and Nick Blackburn pitched 5 1/3 strong innings as the visiting Minnesota Twins avoided a sweep with a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
Joe Nathan, who was making his first appearance after missing the entire 2010 campaign due to Tommy John surgery, allowed a run in the ninth but got Adam Lind to ground out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Valencia got to Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil (0-1) in the third when he led off with a solo blast to left. Toronto got that run back in the fourth, but Minnesota rallied in the next half inning.
Cecil loaded the bases on a hit, a walk and a bunt single before Matt Tolbert singled to left, pushing Jason Kubel across while Valencia was thrown out at the plate. Denard Span singled to load the bases again and rookie Tsuyoshi Nishioka added an RBI single to push it to 3-1.
That was all Blackburn (1-0) would need, as the right-hander was able to induce 13 groundouts - two for double plays - while allowing six hits and two runs - one earned.
Span gave Nathan some insurance with a solo homer in the top of the ninth.
Jose Bautista hit his second homer for the Blue Jays.