Gomez's cycle lifts Twins

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2008 | by Mike Dodd

CHICAGO -- Minnesota Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez ran the bases full speed when he hit a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. He didn't stop motoring all night.

Gomez became the first Twins player to hit for the cycle in 22 years as he led Minnesota's 13-1 rain-delayed rout at U.S. Cellular Field. The loss was Chicago's seventh in its last eight games.

Gomez, who joined the Twins in the Johan Santana trade with the New York Mets this offseason, completed the cycle in reverse order -- a home run off Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (1-4) in the first, a triple in the fifth, a double in the sixth and an infield single off reliever Ehren Wassermann in the ninth.

It marked the first time a Twins...