Field Level Media
Sep 19, 2021
Right-hander Jose Berrios held his former team to three runs, Bo Bichette hit a two-run home run and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Minnesota Twins 5-3 Sunday afternoon.
Berrios (12-8), making his first start against the Twins after they traded him to the Blue Jays on July 30, allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings. He also hit a batter.
He is 5-3 in 10 starts with the Blue Jays.
Jordan Romano pitched around a hit batsman in the ninth inning to earn his 19th save of the season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays (84-65), who took the rubber match of the three-game series.
The Blue Jays are 15-3 in September and have moved into an American League wild card spot.
Ben Rortvedt hit a solo home run for the Twins (65-85).
The Blue Jays had seven straight one-out hits against right-hander Luke Farrell (1-1) in the five-run first inning. Guerrero had an RBI single, Bichette hit his 26th home run, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Breyvic Valera added RBI singles.
Nick Gordon hit a two-run double in the fourth. It scored Josh Donaldson, who had been hit by a pitch, and Miguel Sano, who had doubled.
Four Twins relievers combined to finish the game without allowing another Toronto run. Nick Vincent and Juan Minaya each pitched two-inning stints, with Minaya ringing up five strikeouts. Caleb Thiebar offered one runless inning and Danny Coulombe added two innings as Minnesota put together a bullpen game.
Rortvedt hit his third home run of the season with two out in the seventh inning and Berrios was replaced by Trevor Richards.
After ending the seventh with a popup, Richards struck out the side in the eighth.
The Blue Jays put left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (neck tightness) on the injured list Sunday and recalled left-hander Tayler Saucedo from Triple-A Buffalo.
--Field Level Media