(Toronto) Cavan Biggio’s eighth-inning three-run homer helped the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-6 on Sunday.
The Blue Jays (37-30) rallied from a five-point deficit to prevent the Twins (33-33) from sweeping the three-game series.
Alejandro Kirk and Santiago Espinal started the eighth inning with a single each before Biggio hit his fifth long ball of the campaign, at the expense of Emilio Pagan (3-1).
Blue Jays stopper Jordan Romano collected his 18th save of the season. Nate Pearson (4-0) recorded the win after working two innings in relief.
The Twins manhandled Toronto starter Kevin Gausman by scoring four runs in the first inning. Quebecer Édouard Julien got the ball rolling with a double that Biggio couldn’t grab.
Two walks, a double from Alex Kiriloff as well as singles from Trevor Larnach and Royce Lewis pushed four runners home in an eight-batter inning.
The Blue Jays scored a run in the first inning. George Springer led off the inning with a single and then went to third base when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit center field. Matt Chapman hit a sacrifice to send Springer to the plate.
The Twins extended their lead to 6-1 in the fifth inning. Donovan Solano hit a solo homer and Lewis drove in a run off a single.
Gausman served four and two-thirds innings, throwing 101 pitches. He gave up six runs, seven hits and four walks.
“A lot of shots, too many walks and too many threes and twos,” Gausman conceded. Obviously, I was not very keen. »
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Biggio singled and scored when shortstop Carlos Correa made a bad throw. Chapman then slammed a two-run homer as Guerrero found himself on the trails.
“I kind of knew from the contact that it was going to be good,” Biggio said. In general, with the sticks that I receive, just sparingly, I have to take advantage of my opportunity. So I have to be more aggressive and try to make things happen more often. »
That was the last pitch for Twins starter Louie Varland. He gave up four runs, six hits and two walks in four and two-thirds innings on the mound.
