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Francis (1-4) struck out seven in 61/3 innings for his first regular-season win since Sept. 23, at San Diego. In his previous three starts in May, Francis was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA — including giving up eight runs and 13 hits in
42/3 innings during his last start at Arizona.
Kevin Slowey (0-4) gave up three runs in 52/3 innings for the Twins.
Colorado has won two in a row after dropping six straight.
The Rockies rallied to win their second game in a row after dropping six straight.
Trailing 2-1 with two outs in the sixth, Helton hit a solo homer to right. Garret Atkins doubled and after Brad Hawpe walked, Jeff Baker singled up the middle to make it 3-2. Matt Guerrier relieved Slowey and got Chris Iannetta to fly out and end the inning.
The Rockies got some insurance in the seventh with only one hit against three Minnesota relievers. Helton smacked a two-run single to right, and after a walk loaded the bases, Colorado reliver Taylor Buchholz drew a walk off Jesse Crain to make it 6-2.
After failing to come through with runners in scoring position in his first two at-bats, Justin Morneau made up for it in the sixth. With Delmon Young on second and one out, Morneau drilled Francis’ 86-mph fastball over the right-centerfield wall to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
Clint Barmes had given the Rockies a 1-0 lead with a two-out solo homer in the third.
Francis spent the early part of the game pitching out of trouble. He gave up a leadoff double to Brendan Harris in the first and stranded him there. In the second, Michael Cuddyer led off with a triple to center, but Mike Redmond popped out to first, Howie Clark hit a soft liner to short and Slowey popped out to second.
Young hit a one-out triple in the third, but Craig Monroe struck out and Morneau grounded out to first to end yet another threat.
Notes@: Barmes extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his first-inning single. ... Since 2006, the Twins are 28-11 in Interleague play and the Rockies are 23-13. ... Twins OF Carlos Gomez sat out his second straight game with an injured right wrist. Gomez injured the wrist making the catch for the final out of Minnesota’s win Friday night. ... The Twins and Rockies combined for three home runs Sunday. Neither team hit a homer in the first two games of the series.
