Jays hit three home runs, beat Twins

Blue Jays 6 Twins 1

It was very nice to see the return of the offense.

We had three home runs. It seems like it has been a long time since we had three home runs.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a solo homer in the second, number 31 for Teoscar.

Marcus Semien hit his 43rd home run (tying the record for most home runs by a second baseman), another solo shot, in the sixth.

And George Springer, who showed some frustration in his previous at-bat, had his 18th in the seventh inning, a two-run shot.

We also had a couple of non-home run style runs. In the second inning, after Teoscar’s home run, Corey Dickerson reached on a walk (nice at-bat for Corey) and scored on a Randal Grichuk double (plus an error by Brent Rooker).

And, in the eighth Teoscar, Santiago Espinal, and Danny Jansen all singled, picking up another insurance run.

We had 11 hits on the day. Semien and Hernandez had 2 earch.

Springer had the home run, a walk, and reached on an error. He also made a terrific catch in center, going back on a fly over his head in the first inning. If he didn’t make that catch, two runs would have scored, not just the one on the sac fly, and a runner on second with one out. That would have made it a different game.

We did have a couple of bad baserunning moments. Grichuk was thrown out, trying to go to third, on that double. And, in the third, Springer reached on a Josh Donalson error, went to third on a Semien single. Donaldson spent most of the game really showing us why I thought he’d have to move to first base or DH by now. Then Vladimir Guerrero hit into a 5-4-3 double play, but for unknown reasons, Springer didn’t score. He stood and watched the play. Something that a veteran like George should never do.

Robbie Ray had to fight through the first two innings, giving up a run on a single, walk and sac fly in the first. And gave up two more baserunners in the second. And then he seemed to flick a switch, looking more like the Bob Rae we’ve grown to love.

He ended up going 6 innings, allowing just 3 hits, 4 walks (the first time he’s giving out as many as 4 walks since he allowed 6 in his second start of the season.

Adam Cimber pitched a quick seventh.

Tim Mayza gave out a couple of walks in the eighth but got out of the inning.

Trevor Richards got the ninth.

The Twins only managed 3 hits (with 6 walks) on the night.

Jays of the Day: Ray (.282 WPA), Springer (.202), and Semien (.141).

Suckage: Vlad (-.164, 0 for 4 with a walk, k, and double play).

Tomorrow’s game is a 2:00 Eastern start because it is illegal in Minnesota to have any two games in a series with the same start time.

We had 735 comments, in a far less depressing GameThread than we’ve seen the last few days. I led us to a needed victory.