Twins beat Jays with 5-spot in eighth
MINNEAPOLIS -- Eduardo Nunez had two hits, including a three-run home run in a decisive five-run eighth inning, to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday at Target Field.
The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Twins, who mustered only one hit against Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ through seven innings.
That changed in the eighth,
Robbie Grossman started the inning with a single and Darin Mastroianni walked before catcher Kurt Suzuki popped a bunt to Happ for the first out.
Danny Santana picked up his teammate, however, slapping a two-run double down the right-field line to tie the game 2-2 and end Happ's afternoon.
Blue Jays right-hander Gavin Floyd hit Brian Dozier with a pitch before serving up Nunez's third home run of the season that traveled 424 feet over the left-field fence.
Fernando Abad (1-1) picked up the win, getting a double play to end the eighth inning before the rally. Kevin Jepsen allowed a solo homer in the ninth to Michael Saunders but retired the side for his third save.
Twins left-hander Pat Dean, making his first big league start in his third appearance, did not figure into the final decision, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings.
The only mistake Dean made was a hanging slider to Jose Bautista in the top of the third inning with a runner aboard. Bautista hammered it an estimated 392 feet into the second deck in left for his ninth homer of the season and second in as many days.
Bautista has feasted on Twins pitching over the years. The blast was his 13th home run at Target Field in 20 games at the ballpark since it opened in 2010.
Happ (5-2) was charged with the loss despite the quality start, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out five.
The veteran southpaw retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced and didn't give up a hit until a leadoff double by Nunez in the fourth inning.
Nunez was erased moments later when Miguel Sano flew out to center and Kevin Pillar threw out Nunez trying to advance after tagging up.
It was a solid bounce back outing for Happ, who allowed eight earned runs in two innings his last time out in a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
Toronto did a bulk of their work without third baseman Josh Donaldson, who was ejected moments into the game after an argument with home plate umpire Toby Basner.
In the top of the first inning, Donaldson grounded out to shortstop and engaged Basner on his way back to the dugout. It was Donaldson's second ejection of the season and ninth of the year by Toronto, the most in the majors.
NOTES: Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis went 0-for-5 in the second game of a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Travis, who has not played this season because of offseason shoulder surgery, was expected to return perhaps as early as this weekend, but that is more likely to be closer to June 1. ... Blue Jays LHP Aaron Loup will move his rehab assignment from Class-A Dunedin to Buffalo on Saturday. Loup pitched in three games with Dunedin rehabbing a left flexor strain sustained in early March. ... Twins SS Eduardo Escobar had one hit in his first rehab game with Class-A Fort Myers on Friday. Escobar, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since May 7 because of a groin strain, could return to the Twins as soon as Monday. ... Twins RHP Kyle Gibson will make his first rehab start on Sunday for Fort Myers. Gibson was placed on the disabled list April 27 because of a right shoulder strain. He will likely need two or three starts in the minors before re-joining the big league club. ... Toronto and Minnesota will complete their four-game series at Target Field on Sunday. The Blue Jays will send RHP Marcus Stroman to the mound (4-1, 4.23 ERA) against Twins RHP Phil Hughes (1-6, 5.70).