Blue Jays 9, Twins 7
TORONTO -- Right fielder Jose Bautista hit a grand slam, designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion added a three-run shot, and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to defeat the Minnesota Twins 9-7 Wednesday.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson also hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have won the first three games of the four-game series.
It was the fourth win in a row overall for the Blue Jays (57-52) and the fourth straight loss for the Twins (54-53)
Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano had an RBI single and a two-run homer.
Minnesota right-hander Tyler Duffey (0-1) lasted two innings in his major league debut. He allowed six runs on five hits, including two home runs, and two walks.
Blue Jays right-hander Drew Hutchison (10-2) allowed seven hits, two walks and seven runs (three earned) in five innings.
Right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks, left-hander Brett Cecil and right-hander Mark Lowe each pitched one scoreless inning before right-hander LaTroy Hawkins entered the game in the ninth.
Hawkins, acquired last week from the Colorado Rockies, allowed singles by shortstop Eduardo Escobar and pinch hitter Eduardo Nunez to start the ninth.
Left fielder Shane Robinson sacrificed the runners to second and third. Center fielder Aaron Hicks fouled out to third, and second baseman Brian Dozier lined out to left.
It was the third save of the season for Hawkins, his first for Toronto.
The Twins scored three runs in the first. Center fielder Aaron Hicks led off with a single and first baseman Joe Mauer walked. Sano hit an RBI single, and third baseman Trevor Plouffe had a two-run double.
The Blue Jays answered in the bottom of the first with two runs on the 29th homer of the year by Donaldson, scoring shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who walked.
The Blue Jays took a 6-3 lead in the second. Second baseman Ryan Goins had an infield single, center fielder Kevin Pillar singled to left and left fielder Ben Revere sacrificed the runners to second and third. Donaldson walked with two outs, and Bautista slugged a 3-1 changeup to center for his 24th homer of the season and fifth grand slam of his career.
Right-handed reliever J.R. Graham gave up Encarnacion's 20th homer of the season, a three-run shot in the fourth. It also scored Revere, who singled, and Bautista, who walked.
Revere's hit was his first with the Blue Jays after coming from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade on Friday. He had gone 0-for-13 since joining Toronto.
The Twins scored four unearned runs in the fifth to cut the Blue Jays' lead to 9-7. Mauer had a two-run single to score Robinson, who reached first on Donaldson's error, and Hicks, who doubled. Sano followed with his fifth homer of the season.
NOTES: Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez began serving his three-game suspension after dropping his appeal. He was suspended after his ejection Sunday for hitting Kansas City Royals SS Alcides Escobar with a pitch. ... Twins 2B Brian Dozier batted second for the 12th time this season. He has batted first 85 times and fourth eight times. CF Aaron Hicks moved into the leadoff spot for the second time. He has mostly batted seventh (18 times), eighth (19) or ninth (10). Minnesota had scored seven runs in five games entering Wednesday. ... Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (left ACL surgery) threw off a mound for the first time since being injured in spring training. He is tentatively scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Aug. 21. Although he was declared out for the season, Stroman said he is trying for a September return. ... The Twins will start RHP Kyle Gibson (8-8, 3.37 ERA) in the finale of the four-game series Thursday against Blue Jays LHP Mark Buehrle (11-5, 3.32).