David Roach doubled off Chad Cordero in the bottom of the eighth to drive
in pinch-runner Tony Leseman and give Minnesota an 8-7 win over fifth-ranked
Cal State Fullerton in a curfew-shortened game Sunday afternoon in the
Metrodome.
The teams set a 3 p.m. curfew before the game to accomodate the Titans'
travel plans. Minnesota improved its record to 6-5 while the Titans fell
to 16-3 and lost their first series of the season.
Cordero took the loss to fall to 1-1 while Minnesota closer Brian Bull
was credited with the win despite allowing the tying run in the top of
the eighth.
Fullerton trailed, 7-4, heading into the sixth, but Shane Costa's RBI-double
and Kurt Suzuki's RBI-groundout brought the Titans to within a run. Fullerton
tied the game in the top of the eighth when Ronnie Prettyman's safety
squeeze bunt scored pinch-runner Bobby Andrews.
Fullerton had earlier tied the game, 4-4, before Minnesota got to Titan
reliever Ricky Romero -- the second of five Titan pitchers used on the
day -- for three runs in the sixth. The third run went in the book as
unearned thanks to errors in the inning by Costa (his second of the day)
and pitcher Jason Windsor.
The Titans trailed, 4-2, in the top of the sixth before Richie Burgos
-- who had four hits and extended his hitting streak to nine games --
and Danny Dorn had consecutive two-out RBI singles to knot the game, 4-4.
The Titans grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third on Justin Turner's two-run
single up the middle, but Minnesota scored two runs in the bottom of the
frame off Titan starter Dustin Miller.
The Golden Gophers took advantage of three straight walks from Miller
to open the game to grab a 1-0 lead in the first. Titan pitchers combined
to walk a season-high eight batters.
Fullerton will host San Diego on Tuesday before playing a three-game set
vs. USC next weekend. The Friday and Sunday games will be at USC's Dedeaux
Field while Saturday's game will be played at Edison Field.
