Seattle, WA – Chris Colabello picked a perfect time to launch his first career home run.
Colabello clubbed a two-run blast in the top of the 13th inning Friday to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the second game of a four-game series at Safeco Field.
With Yoervis Medina (3-3) pitching for Seattle, Aaron Hicks hit a leadoff single before Colabello clubbed the first pitch tossed to him over the right- field wall.
Brian Duensing (3-1) allowed three hits over the 11th and 12th innings to pick up the win. Glen Perkins gave up a home run in the bottom of the 13th but notched his 25th save.
Minnesota starter Scott Diamond gave up one run on five hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings but earned a no-decision. He has not won since June 20 against the White Sox.
Seattle starter Felix Hernandez pitched nine innings and had a shutout entering the ninth, but gave up a game-tying single to pinch-hitter Trevor Plouffe with one out in the inning. He allowed five hits and struck out 11 in his outing.
"I thought we pitched very well. Mr. Hernandez was as well as advertised. He's so dominant. Our boys kept battling," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "On a night when you're facing that guy, you know runs will be at a premium."
The Mariners had a chance to win in the bottom of the 12th. Endy Chavez and Nick Franklin hit back-to-back two-out singles off Duensing, but Raul Ibanez struck out.
In the Mariners 13th, leadoff man Kendrys Morales hammered a 2-2 fastball to center to make it a 3-2 game. Kyle Seager singled to right, but a Justin Smoak double play and a ground out by Dustin Ackley ended the game.
"We want to continue to pound away and try to work our lineup around," said Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson. "We need to get the guys ... to step it up and do a little bit of damage. Everyone's got to contribute. Some people have to pick up the slack a little."
Neither team had much offensive success until the fifth. Ackley hit a leadoff single but was forced out on a fielder's choice by Brendan Ryan. Ryan reached third on Henry Blanco's blooper to right before scoring on Franklin's single up the middle.
Seattle had a chance to extend its lead in the seventh. Ryan reached first on a throwing error by Twins shortstop Pedro Florimon. After Blanco flew out, Jared Burton replaced Diamond.
Pinch-hitter Chavez doubled down the left-field line, putting runners in scoring position, but Franklin lined out to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, Hernandez gave up a leadoff single to Florimon, who advanced to second on Brian Dozier's sacrifice bunt and scored on Plouffe's base hit to center. Hernandez struck out Justin Morneau and Ryan Doumit to end the rally.
Minnesota's Casey Fien retired Ackley, pinch-hitter Brad Miller and Blanco in short order, sending the game into extra innings.
Game Notes
Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer will not rejoin the Twins until Tuesday. Mauer was placed on the paternity list on Wednesday but will be moved to the restricted list on Saturday ... The Twins have turned 120 double plays as a team this season, most in the majors ... Until Plouffe's RBI, Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma combined to not allow an earned run in the last 59 innings against the Twins ... Hernandez has a 2.07 ERA in 15 career starts against Minnesota ... Morales is hitting .309 with seven home runs and 17 RBI over his lat 24 games.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.