Blue Jays 7, Twins 4: Oh look, another home run (simulated)

Today’s lineups:

MIN: Kepler RF, Polanco SS, Cruz DH, Sano 1B, Rosario LF, Donaldson 3B, Cave LF, Arraez 2B, Avila C, Buxton CF, Odorizzi P

TOR: Bichette SS, Hernandez RF, Guerrero 3B, Grichuk CF, Shaw 1B, Gurriel LF, Fisher DH, Biggio 2B, Jansen C, Roark P

Things didn’t start out so badly. Max Kepler and Nelson Cruz at least made loud outs. Jorge Polanco and Miguel Sano interspersed a couple singles. Then Eddie Rosario started the Bomba party. The Twins took a three out lead to blow later in the game before the middle of the first inning. Jake Odorizzi only gave back one of the runs in the first, on a solo homer that Teoscar Hernandez drove over the left field fence. Both pitchers then settled in for a couple scoreless innings.

The Twins finished their scoring for the night in fourth, with Miguel Sano leading off. Sano took a strike, then pulled a flyball 363 feet, for a bomba. Unfortunately, the Twins only scored four runs today, on two Bombas. The Blue Jays did more, but not until the bottom of the fifth.

In the fifth inning, the bottom of the Toronto order did damage, lead off by number six hitter Lourdes Gurriel Jr, who hit an infield single that Donaldson just couldn’t quite get to. Derek Fisher, the next batter, hit a hot grounder to Luis Arraez, and the Twins sophomore second baseman just couldn’t find the handle, misplaying the ball and putting two runners on. Danny Jansen, batting ninth today, took advantage of the two men in front of him, and plated three runs with a big fly to other side of the fence. That tied up the game, but Odorizzi stayed in to pitch a bit longer, for some reason.

Odorizzi handled the top of the Blue Jays line up fine, but the 7-8-9 hitters were due up to start the seventh. With one out, Cavan Biggio chased Odorizzi from the game, with a line drive home run that left in a hurry—113.1 mph exit velocity. Odorizzi excited after pitching 6.1, and Trevor May came on to face Danny Jansen. Jansen went back-to-back with Biggio, and hit a home run for the second straight at bat.

May gave up the final run of the game in the eighth, leaving a man on for Sergio Romo, who allowed the inherited runner to score.

Notes

• Indoor baseball: Toronto closed the roof tonight
• The return of Byron Buxton!
• The Twins only managed to get four hits tonight.

STUDS:

Miguel Sano: 2-4, HR
Eddie Rosario: 1-4, HR

DUDS:

Trevor May: 1.0 IP, 2 ER
Alex Avila: 0-3, 2K
Byron Buxton: 0-3, 3K

Tomorrow: After a quick flight to Canada, the fake Twins visit the Blue Jays, with a first pitch at 6:07 pm (Look for the recap around 10 pm)

Standings: DET 9-6 —
CHW 9-7 1/2
MIN 9-8 1
KCR 7-9 2 1/2
CLE 7-10 3