AMERICAN LEAGUE Pierzynski connects on bobblehead day

His two-run blast against Texas helped the Twins remain tied for first place.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MINNEAPOLIS -- On the way to the ballpark Saturday, A.J. Pierzynski had a feeling he would hit a homer. After all, everyone homers on their bobblehead day.
Pierzynski's clairvoyance came true with a two-run drive in the third that backed Brad Radke, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 to stay in a first-place tie in the AL Central.
"Denny [Hocking] and I drove in today and we talked about how everyone hits one on his bobblehead day," said Pierzynski, who hadn't homered since June 30. "That and I hadn't hit one in a while made me feel pretty good."
"But, it's good I hit that home run because that's the only runner I drove in," said Pierzynski, who stranded four runners in his other three at bats.
Pierzynski's third-inning shot was his most important at-bat and the one that his manager and teammates chose to focus on. He fouled off four two-strike pitches before getting one he could drive.
"A.J. can do those things because he battles his tail off," manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Shannon Stewart went 3-for-5 with an RBI as the Twins won their fourth straight game and stayed even with Chicago atop the division. Minnesota improved to 31-17 since the All-Star break.
Shane Spencer drove in both runs for Texas, which has lost five straight road games and 10 of 15 games overall.
Radke (11-10) allowed two runs and five hits, while striking out four and walking none. He has won his last three decisions, although he was coming off his shortest outing of the year.
He had a no-decision but pitched 2 1-3 innings in the Twins' 11-10 loss at Texas on Sunday.
Radke said that he wasn't even thinking about that previous start.
"I was a little more angry at the 11 o'clock start," Radke said, jokingly. "But, I had pretty good command of my fastball, and I had a good sinker today."
LaTroy Hawkins pitched a scoreless eighth, and Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his 33rd save in 36 chances.
R.A. Dickey (8-7) walked three, struck out two and allowed five runs and six hits in 22/3 innings. He has allowed 16 earned runs over 122/3 innings in his last three starts.
TEXASMINNESOTA
abrhbiabrhbi
MYong 2b4010ShStwrt lf5031
Blalock 3b4000Rivas 2b5000
ARdrgz ss4000Mntkw 1b5120
RPlmo dh4020LeCroy dh2100
Txeira 1b4110Ford dh0000
Nix cf4110JJones rf4121
Spncer lf4022THnter cf4111
JsJones rf2000Przyns c4112
EDiaz c3000Hcking 3b2010
CGzmn ss4010
Totals33272Totals355115
Texas000010100--2
Minnesota02300000x--5
E--CGuzman (10). DP--Minnesota 1. LOB--Texas 5, Minnesota 10. 2B--RPalmeiro (20), Nix (10), Spencer (17), JJones (33). 3B--THunter (4). HR--Pierzynski (10). SB--CGuzman (16).
IPHRERBBSO
Texas
Dickey L,8-72 2-365532
Drese3 1-330001
Mahay1 1-310002
Garcia1-310000
BShouse1-300000
Minnesota
Radke W,11-10752204
Hawkins110000
Guardado S,33110001
Drese pitched to 2 batters in the 7th. HBP--by Drese (LeCroy), by Radke (JsJones). Balk--Dickey. Umpires--Home, Chuck Meriwether; First, Tim Welke; Second, Mark Wegner; Third, Gary Cederstrom. T--3:00. A--27,018.
Blue Jays 1, Tigers 0,10 innings
TORONTO -- Roy Halladay pitched the first extra-inning shutout in the major leagues since Jack Morris in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.
Halladay (19-6) didn't allow a hit until pinch-hitter Kevin Witt doubled off the wall in left-center with two outs in the eighth. He finished with a three-hitter.
Pinch-hitter Bobby Kielty drove in the winning run off Fernando Rodney (0-2) when he singled over center fielder Alex Sanchez.
DETROITTORONTO
abrhbiabrhbi
Petrick cf3000Jhnson rf4010
ASnchz cf1000Kielty ph1011
WMoris 2b4010Ctlnotto lf4000
Hggnsn rf4010Wells cf4000
DYong dh4000CDlgdo 1b3030
CPena 1b3000Berg 1b0000
Monroe lf4000JPhlps dh3000
Halter 3b4000Hinske 3b2100
Inge c4000Bordick ss3000
RStiago ss1000Clark ph0000
Witt 3b1010OHudsn 2b4010
Cash c3000
GMyrs ph0000
Totals33030Totals31161
Detroit0000000000--0
Toronto0000000001--1
Two outs when winning run scored.
E--Hinske (16). DP--Detroit 2, Toronto 1. LOB--Detroit 5, Toronto 7. 2B--Witt (9). CS--OHudson (4). S--Clark.
IPHRERBBSO
Detroit
Cornejo950022
Rodney L,0-2 2-311121
Toronto
Halladay W,19-61030015
HBP--by Cornejo (JPhelps), by Halladay (RSantiago).
Umpires--Home, Phil Cuzzi; First, Larry Poncino; Second, Jerry Crawford; Third, Brian O'Nora. T--2:03. A--18,261.