Twins edge past M’s

MINNEAPOLIS – Once again, the Minnesota Twins got ’em over and got ’em in. They picked up another victory by piecing together well-timed contact, surprise and speed.

Joe Mauer homered and scored three times, sliding home in the ninth inning on Brian Buscher’s sacrifice fly to lift the Twins over the Seattle Mariners 7-6 on Saturday and keep them tied for first with the Chicago White Sox for the A.L. Central lead.

Ichiro Suzuki’s two-run single capped a six-run rally in the sixth that put the Mariners ahead 6-5, and manager Ron Gardenhire blamed himself for not calling for an intentional walk. But Jason Kubel’s pinch-hit single off Cesar Jimenez (0-2) tied it in the eighth and set up the winning rally.

“I’d much rather see six three-run homers,” Gardenhire said. “We take ’em however we can get ’em.”

Mauer singled off third baseman Adrian Beltre’s glove against Jimenez and Justin Morneau followed with a single. Miguel Batista relieved, and Delmon Young dropped down his first career sacrifice bunt.

Pinch-hitter Mike Lamb was intentionally walked to load the bases and Buscher hit a short fly to left field. Jeremy Reed’s throw was way off line and Mauer scored easily.

“I just tried to hurry. I didn’t get anything on the ball,” Reed said.

The Twins are next to last in the league with 87 home runs, but they lead the majors with 52 sacrifice flies and are also best in baseball with a .317 average with runners in scoring position.

“We’ve seen that quite a bit over the years,” said Nick Punto, who contributed two singles – including one via a bunt – and seven assists at second base.

Minnesota starter Scott Baker had a 5-0 lead after five innings, but it wasn’t a breeze. The Mariners helped him out by grounding into three double plays, before taking their brief lead.

“Been five weeks worth now just like that,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “Our wins have been like that. Our losses have been like that. So our ballclub is playing in a real intense atmosphere, considering where we are in the standings. We’re playing first-place clubs, and the games have been coming down like that. Too often we’re coming up on the short end.”

After a single and a walk to start the sixth, Beltre doubled in the first run. Jeff Clement’s slow-rolling single up the middle with one out scored two more.

Reliever Jesse Crain walked Brian LaHair with two outs and gave up an RBI double to Yuniesky Betancourt. Craig Breslow came in, and Ichiro slapped a single to left. But Breslow worked 21/3 scoreless innings after that, and Dennys Reyes (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth.

Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith gave up 10 hits and two walks in five innings, throwing 89 pitches and striking out one.

Silva lands on DL

Mariners left-hander Carlos Silva was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow.

The move was made one day after Silva gave up nine hits and nine runs in 31/3 innings against his former Twins teammates. He is 4-14 with a 6.36 ERA.

Left-hander Ryan Feierabend will be called up from Triple-A Tacoma and start today’s game against the Twins. He was 7-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 13 starts for the Rainiers.