Pablo Lopez pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 2-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Carlos Santana and Willi Castro drove in one run apiece for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game losing streak. The Twins entered the series opener against Toronto with eight losses in their past 10 games.
Leo Jimenez and Spencer Horwitz had two hits apiece to lead the Blue Jays at the plate. All seven of Toronto’s hits were singles.
Lopez (13-8) scattered six hits, walked none and struck out three.
Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-10) gave up two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out four.
Twins closer Jhoan Duran pitched a scoreless ninth to collect his 19th save.
The Twins broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Jose Miranda led off the inning with a double to right field. One batter later, Santana singled to right to drive in Miranda.
Ryan Jeffers drew a walk in the next at-bat, then Austin Martin laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out.
The strategy paid off moments later as Castro lofted a sacrifice fly to left. Santana came in to score and increase the Twins’ advantage to 2-0.
The Blue Jays tried to make noise in the top of the sixth as Jimenez led off with an infield single. But Daulton Varsho popped out to second in the next at-bat, and Will Wagner grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Blue Jays tried again to rally in the ninth. Wagner led off with a single, then was retired in the next at-bat as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice. Horwitz came up with Guerrero Jr. on first and one out and grounded into a game-ending double play.
–Field Level Media
