TORONTO, 19 May 2004 — Jacque Jones recorded a tie-breaking homer to spark a four-run burst in the top of the ninth inning, which led the Minnesota Twins to a 9-5 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Monday.

Lew Ford, Torii Hunter and Jones all hit two-run homers as the Twins won for the sixth time in seven games.

Hunter led off the ninth with a double and Jones followed by knocking a pitch from reliever Michael Nakamura out of the park to give Minnesota a 7-5 lead.

Michael Cuddyer also scored on an error by Toronto catcher Kevin Cash before Cristian Guzman added a run-scoring single.

The Blue Jays were down 5-2 but fought back with three runs in the seventh to tie the game off Minnesota starter Brad Radke and reliever JC Romero.

Juan Rincon (6-2) came on in the eighth to get five outs for the win. He did not allow a hit over 1 2/3 innings while striking out five batters and walking one.

Aaron Fultz came on to pick up the last out in the ninth and earn his first save of the season. Matthew LeCroy had two hits and scored two runs for the Twins while Ford, Hunter and Jones all had two hits to lead Minnesota’s 13-hit attack.

Nakamura (0-2) pitched one inning, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits to take the loss. Starter Ted Lilly went 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits.

Frank Menechino went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who have lost five out of seven despite splitting a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox at SkyDome on the weekend.

Carlos Delgado, Frank Catalanotto and Cash drove in the other runs for Toronto.

In the other AL game played Monday, Victor Martinez had three hits and drove in three runs to give the host Cleveland Indians their fifth straight win, a 7-2 decision over the Chicago White Sox. Cliff Lee (5-0) went five innings for the victory, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Travis Hafner and Matt Lawton both drove in two runs for the Indians.

Felix Diaz (0-1) went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Ross Gload homered for the Sox while Frank Thomas drove in Chicago’s other run.

Rockies Rally From 6-0

Down to Beat Phillies

Vinny Castilla hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Colorado Rockies rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 in the lone National League game played Monday.

The Rockies trailed 6-0 after three innings in Denver but began their comeback by scoring five runs in the seventh, including two homers from Matt Holliday and Charles Johnson.

In the ninth, Todd Helton drew a leadoff walk on only four pitches and Castilla followed with his 10th home run of the season, clubbing a shot, which cleared the left field wall. Castilla finished with three hits and drove in three runs. Denny Hocking, Royce Clayton and Kit Pellow all contributed two hits to the 14-hit Colorado attack.

Mike Lieberthal homered, had three hits and drove in three runs for the Phillies while Chase Utley also drove in three runs and had two hits. David Bell, Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell all had two hits for the Phillies, who had 12 hits in total. Brian Fuentes (1-0) picked up the victory, tossing a scoreless top of the ninth for the Rockies. Tom Worrell (0-1) blew the save and allowed the winning runs.

The Phillies ended their 10-game road trip with a 7-3 record despite back-to-back 7-6 losses in Denver.