Field Level Media
Sep 17, 2021
Jorge Polanco hit a two-run home run, Josh Donaldson, Miguel Sano and Brent Rooker added solo shots and the visiting Minnesota Twins defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Friday night.
Rooker also had an RBI double for the Twins (65-83) in the opener of a three-game series and the first meeting between the teams this season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 46th home run of the season for the Blue Jays (82-65), who are a half-game behind the New York Yankees for the American League's second wild-card spot.
Blue Jays left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (13-9) allowed five runs, five hits and a walk in two-plus innings.
Twins right-hander Michael Pineda (7-8) allowed three runs (one earned), three hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Minnesota scored one in the second on a walk to Sano and a double by Rooker.
Toronto scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the second. Corey Dickerson doubled and scored on Polanco's throwing error on Danny Jansen's two-out grounder to shortstop. Jake Lamb hit an RBI double and took third on Polanco's errant relay throw home.
The Twins used three straight home runs in a five-run third inning. Ryan Jeffers singled and scored on Byron Buxton's double. Polanco hit his 31st homer of the season and Donaldson, a former Blue Jay who received a loud ovation when he came to bat in the first inning, hit his 23rd. Ross Stripling replaced Ryu and allowed Sano's 29th home run of the season
Guerrero homered in the bottom of the inning.
Rooker led off the sixth with a home run against Julian Merryweather, his eighth of the season.
Pineda retired 10 in a row before walking Teoscar Hernandez with two out in the sixth and was replaced by Jorge Alcala, who worked around a single to end the inning.
Tyler Duffey took over for the Twins in the eighth inning and struck out Marcus Semien, Guerrero and Bo Bichette.
Minnesota's Alex Colome pitched around a two-out double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the bottom of the ninth inning.
--Field Level Media