Jays break out with four-run sixth — then hang on
Teoscar Hernandez made the difference against the Minnesota Twins for the second time in as many nights, helping the Jays beat the Twins 6-5 at Target Field — giving them back-toback wins for the second time this season.
Hernandez, who hit a gamewinning three-run homer on Monday, came up with a decisive two-RBI single in the seventh off the Twins’ fourth reliever Trevor Hildenberger to put the visitors ahead to stay. He cashed in Eric Sogard and Randal Grichuk, who had singled and walked.
The left fielder, who went 1-for-3 with a walk and two outfield assists, then had a mental lapse for a second straight night, overshooting his baserunning and forcing Justin Smoak into an inning-ending rundown between second and third.
The lack of concentration will matter to manager Charlie Montoyo, but didn’t matter to the result.
Sixth sense: When the Jays scored in the sixth inning for the first time this season, they did it in style. Toronto cashed in four runs on five hits in the frame, sending all nine batters to the plate and knocking out Twins starter Kyle Gibson in the process. Smoak got Toronto on the board after Gibson loaded the bases by allowing a single to Danny Jansen, a double to Sogard and a walk to Grichuk. Smoak, who the Twins had pitched around earlier in the night, beat the shift for a tworun single and a 2-1 lead. Rowdy Tellez and Alen Hanson added RBI singles before reliever Ryne Harper got the Twins out of the inning.
Short-lived: Jays starter Aaron Sanchez, who gave up four runs in all on four hits in six innings, surrendered his second homer of the night — after a solo shot by Jorge Polanco in the third — to Eddie Rosario in the bottom of the sixth, a threerun shot after walking Max Kepler and Polanco, tying the game at 4-4. Marwin Gonzalez hit the home side’s third homer of the game, a solo shot off closer Ken Giles, to make things interesting in the ninth. The game ended with the Twins’ C.J. Cron, aboard on a fielder’s choice, thrown out at home on a Byron Buxton double.
So far, Sogard: Sogard may not be the third baseman Jays fans have been waiting for — hello Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — but the 32-year-old showed some veteran skills as the leadoff man. Sogard went 3-for-5, working Gibson for 20 pitches alone in a trio of professional at-bats, and stole third in the seventh inning.
Philosopher stone cold: Socrates Brito, acquired by the Jays from the San Diego Padres two weeks ago, got his first look in centre field. But he couldn’t get going at the plate, with a 0-for-4 night extending his slump to 0-for-21. That’s a franchise record hitless string to start a career, two more than David Dellucci’s 0-for-19 slump in July of 2009.
Up next: Right-hander Trent Thornton takes the mound for the Jays against Twins righty Jake Odorizzi on Wednesday at 7:40 p.m., with rain in the forecast.