Romero pitches gem in debut with Twins to beat Blue Jays

MINNESOTA 4, TORONTO 0

Fernando Romero kept Toronto scoreless while pitching into the sixth inning of his major-league debut for Minnesota, giving the Twins a badly needed boost in a 4-0 victory Wednesday over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Eddie Rosario homered for the Twins, who won for only the second time in 13 games. Romero (1-0) was a big reason, striking out five in 52/3 innings while allowing four hits and three walks. Four relievers preserved the shutout, allowing only two singles.

Marcus Stroman (0-4) had his best performance in six turns for the Blue Jays this season. It was his longest appearance and his first with fewer than four runs allowed. The right-hander, who turned 27 Tuesday, gave up six hits, two runs and one walk in seven innings. He struck out five.

With a fastball clocking in at 95 m.p.h. or higher, Romero deftly worked out of two-on, one-out situations in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

He struck out Teoscar Hernandez on a caught-stealing doubleplay to end the third, when first base umpire Phil Cuzzi ruled Hernandez’s swing was not checked. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons argued from the dugout and was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Bellino, his first ejection this season and 45th of his career.

In the fourth, Kendrys Morales, who homered twice Tuesday, struck out to end the inning. Hernandez hit into an inning-ending double-play with a ground ball in the fifth.

Max Kepler, Robbie Grossman and Gregorio Petit drove in runs and Joe Mauer, Eduardo Escobar and Rosario each had two hits for the Twins.