Mike Pelfrey pitched six scoreless innings and Brian Dozier had 4 RBI as the Minnesota Twins blanked the Blue Jays Saturday in Toronto, 6-0.
The Twins actually got all the runs they needed in the 3rd inning, when a string of baserunners led to an early 3-0 lead. Dozier started the scoring by knocking in Aaron Hicks for the game’s first run, Jamey Carroll added a double and Joe Mauer added a single to score two more.
Pelfrey pitched commandingly to a Toronto lineup that can be lethal at any moment. He pitched six complete, giving up three hits and no runs with three walks and two strikeouts, to reach 4-6 on the season. Caleb Thielbar, Jared Burton and Glen Perkins all pitched scoreless innings in relief.
Dozier added a three-run homer in the 7th inning.
Former Twin and reigning knuckleballer R.A. Dickey made the start for Toronto. After two stellar starts, Dickey (8-9) was dinged for all six runs on seven hits and two walks. Dickey surrendered just two earned runs and eight hits over 16 innings in his two pervious outings.
Just coming off the DL, Pelfrey earned a win for the first time in his last nine outings, dating back two months, according to the SportsNetwork. And the Twins won for the first time in July, snapping a losing streak and included a sweep by the Yankees and a win by Toronto Friday night.
Rubber match is Sunday, 12:05 p.m., at Rogers Centre.
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