Lidle, Jays complete sweep of Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins are usually one of the

toughest teams to beat at home. For one weekend, the Toronto Blue

Jays had no problems doing it.

Carlos Delgado homered and drove in four runs, and Cory Lidle

pitched seven strong innings as Toronto completed a three-game

sweep of the Twins with an 8-1 victory Sunday.

The Twins were 101-61 at the Metrodome over the past two

seasons, but were swept at home for just the third time since the

beginning of the 2001 season.

"That's not the norm here,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

"We expect to win at home. Teams don't come in here and get us

like this.''

Lidle (1-1) kept the Twins hitters in their season-opening

slump, while Delgado led the offensive charge against Twins starter

Brad Radke.

Delgado hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his second of

the season, and added a two-run single in a four-run third. He was

5-for-9 with six RBI in the final two games of the series.

"I've felt good yesterday and today,'' Delgado said. "The

first few games I've been jumpy.''

Lidle allowed one run on six hits over seven innings, striking

out seven. Minnesota has scored just 20 runs in six games and is

batting .242 as a team.

The Blue Jays swept a three-game series at the Metrodome for the

first time since 1993, the second of their consecutive World Series

championship seasons.

"The most important thing was to win the series and get us out

of here on a higher note,'' Lidle said. The Blue Jays rebounded

from a season-opening sweep at home by the New York Yankees.

Radke (1-1), sharp in his first start at Detroit, was hit hard,

giving up eight runs and 10 hits in three-plus innings. The eight

earned runs tied Radke's career high, set four times previously --

the last against Boston on July 6, 2000.

"I didn't throw any good pitches,'' Radke said. "The ones I

did throw were the ones they took.''

With the Minnesota bullpen taxed after its top four relievers

combined to pitch seven innings Saturday, the Twins needed a strong

start from Radke -- and didn't get it.

Delgado jumped on a hanging breaking ball with one on and two

outs in the first inning, sending it over the center-field fence.

Radke then allowed the first five Blue Jays to reach base in the

third. Three consecutive singles loaded the bases before he walked

Vernon Wells on a 3-2 pitch to force in a run.

Delgado followed with a sharp single that caromed off shortstop

Chris Gomez's glove, scoring two more runs to make it 5-0. Another

run came home on Greg Myers' single.

"With veterans like Radke and (Saturday starter Kenny) Rogers,

you have to get on them early,'' Wells said. "If you let them

settle in, it'll be over.''

Frank Catalanotto's two-run double in the fourth chased Radke,

who was replaced by Juan Rincon.

Gomez's RBI single in the sixth accounted for Minnesota's only

run.

Game notes

The Twins' game Monday at Yankee Stadium was postponed

because of a forecast of heavy snow in New York. The Yankees' home

opener was pushed back to Tuesday. ... Minnesota placed RHP Mike Fetters on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring

and recalled Rincon from Triple-A Rochester. Rincon retired 15 of

16 hitters and struck out a career-high six in five innings of

relief. ... Toronto catcher Myers was shaken up in the fourth

inning when Lidle's pitch bounced in front of the plate and hit him

in the neck, but he stayed in the game. ... The Twins gave

struggling outfielder Torii Hunter (3-for-21) the day off and used

Jacque Jones as the DH after he turned his left ankle in the ninth

inning Saturday. Bobby Kielty played left, Dustan Mohr started in

center and Michael Cuddyer started in right. ... Gomez made his

first start at shortstop for the Twins. ... Wells has at least one

RBI in each of the Blue Jays' first six games. ... Lidle lost to

the Yankees in his Toronto debut last Tuesday.