Minnesota Twins Delmon Young, right, celebrates his solo homerun with Nick Punto, left, while playing against the Toronto Blue Jays during second inning AL action in Toronto on Monday, May 17, 2010.NATHAN DENETTE/The Canadian Press
When you are hauling the weight of a sub-.200 batting average around and are still in the starting lineup you realize that it is your defensive prowess that is keeping you afloat.
And when things also start to go wrong on the defensive side, as it did Monday night for Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay, it was no wonder that he was one frustrated individual after the Minnesota Twins recorded an 8-3 triumph.
It certainly didn't help matters when some of the so-called fans at Rogers Centre began serenading "Overbay sucks" after he made two errors on the same play in the costly fourth inning that essentially handed the Twins the victory.
The loss snapped a four-game winning steak for the Blue Jays (23-17).
Give Overbay credit, he stood up and faced the music after it was all said and done - as uncomfortable as it must have been.
"I can't please everybody," said Overbay, who has been a favorite target of Blue Jay hecklers all season.
Asked if Monday night's reaction by the fans felt harsher, Overbay simply replied. "I don't know. I don't care."
Minnesota's Justin Morneau also had a lot to do with the outcome that maintained the Twins (24-14) grip on first place in the American League Central.
The New Westminster, B.C., native went 3-for-4 in the game, with two home runs, while driving in four of Minnesota's total.
In the process, Morneau fattened his A.L.-leading batting average to .374 on the season.
Morneau said early in his career he found it difficult returning to Canada to play in front of so many friends and family.
He hopes he is over that now.
"Now when we come here I just try and relax and enjoy being here but, at the same time, just treat it like any other ballpark and not try to do too much, knowing that everyone at home is watching," he said. "I think to keep it simple is better for me."
Next up for Morneau was heading out and grabbing some ketchup-flavored chips that apparently are scarce in the United States.
The Blue Jays,on the strength of a Jose Bautista home run blast, led 2-1 heading into the fourth, where the game began to unravel for Toronto with Minnesota putting four runs up on the board.
And it was Overbay, who already had been handcuffed earlier in the game by a couple of hard-hit balls, who was victimized again.
The Twins had already scored twice in the inning for a 3-2 lead and were threatening more with runners at first and third.
Minnesota's Michael Cuddyer grounded to short and would have been the third out at first had Overbay not dropped the relay for an error, allowing Mauer to cross with the Twins' fourth run.
Overbay then compounded his misery when he scooped up the loose ball and attempted to throw Morneau out at third.
His hurried throw, however, was off the mark and the ball rolled into foul territory for another error and Morneau was allowed to trot home for the inning's second unearned run that put Minnesota ahead 5-2.
Overbay said he reached and tried to pick the throw out of the air instead of trying to short-hop it which led to the first error.
After that "I should have just eaten it and be done with it," he said.
Dana Eveland, the Blue Jays starting pitcher, had another ragged outing, lasting just four-plus innings, surrendering five Minnesota runs (three earned) off nine hits.
Eveland has only pitched eight innings over his last two starts, posting an 0-2 record and a 10.13 earned-run-average.
"I don't think the defence played horribly," Eveland said. "There was one play that was kind of a mess a little bit. But other than that, like I said, they just got balls in holes."
ON DECK
Turning point: It would have to be the four-run Minnesota fourth when Toronto first baseman Lyle Overbay committed two errors on the same play that allowed two unearned runs to cross. The outburst allowed the Twins to secure a 5-2 lead.
Offensive player: Justin Morneau, the New Westminster, B.C., native, came into the contest as the American League's top hitter with a .362 batting average. He collected two hits, including his 10th home run of the year in the sixth inning, to lead the Twins.
Starting pitchers: Minnesota's Kevin Slowey (5-3) was good, but not great, allowing three Toronto runs off eight hits over five innings to earn the win. It was a short outing for Toronto's Dana Eveland, who took the loss (3-3), last four-plus inning where he was knocked around for five Minnesota runs (three earned) off nine hits while walking four.
Notes: Jose Bautista, the Blue Jays third baseman, has been named the A.L. player of the week after batting .444 (8-for-18) with five home runs, eight RBI and scoring eight times.,,the hit Vernon Wells collected in the first inning for Toronto was No. 1,414, moving him ahead of Carlos Delgado and into second place on the Blue Jays all-time hits list.
NEXT Tuesday vs. Minnesota Twins, at Rogers Centre, 12:37 p.m. EDT.
Starters Toronto RHP Shaun Marcum (2-1, 2.78) against Minnesota RHP Carl Pavano (4-3, 3.30)
TV Rogers Sportsnet