Chris Colabello’s first career home run in the 13th inning lifted the Twins over the Mariners, 3-2 Friday night in Seattle.
Minnesota needed some late hits just to tie the game because they had a heck of a time hitting against Seattle’s starting pitcher.
Felix Hernandez didn’t allow a run until he was two outs away from a complete game shutout. The right-hander, who lowered his American League leading ERA to 2.34, struck out 11 Twins in nine innings of work.
Hernandez allowed just five hits, but two of them came in the ninth. Pedro Florimon led off the ninth with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brian Dozier, and scored the tying run on Trevor Plouffe’s pinch-hit single.
Seattle plated a run in the fifth — the only run they could muster against Twins’ left-hander Scott Diamond.
It was one of Diamond’s best starts of the season, allowing just one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Diamond hasn’t allowed a run in 13 2/3 innings against the Mariners this season.
Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the 13th, Twins’ closer Glen Perkins gave up a leadoff homer to Kendrys Morales, but finished the inning for his 25th save of the season.
