By Canadian Press

Kiermaier, Bichette homer in Blue Jays’ 3-1 win over Twins

May 26, 2023 | 9:23 PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier and Bo Bichette homered in a three-run third, Kevin Gausman won for the first time in more than a month and the slumping Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Friday night.

Toronto won for the second time in nine games. Gausman (3-3) allowed a run and struck out eight over 5 1/3 innings for his first victory since April 23. Jordan Romano worked the ninth for his 11th save.

Kiermaier got the scoring started with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to right field with two outs in the third. George Springer followed with his second double of the game and scored on Bichette’s 10th home run, a 424-foot blast to straightaway centre.

Louie Varland (2-1) pitched six innings for the Twins.

Minnesota’s slumping lineup scratched out just five hits and was unable to take advantage of nine walks. The Twins stranded 13 runners on base, their season high for a nine-inning game.

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Gausman cruised through five innings before his control abandoned him in the sixth. Alex Kiriloff and Edouard Julien drew walks, and Kyle Garlick’s RBI double spelled the end for Gausman.

Reliever Erik Swanson walked pinch-hitter Joey Gallo on four pitches to load the bases, but he struck out Michael A. Taylor and retired Donovan Solano on a groundout to end the threat.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Danny Jansen was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained groin. C Tyler Heineman was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take his place.

Twins: SS Carlos Correa returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with soreness in his left foot.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Chris Bassitt (5-3, 3.03 ERA) will face the Twins on Saturday afternoon. In his last outing, Bassitt’s 28-inning scoreless streak was snapped by the Rays in a 6-4 loss.

Twins: Minnesota counters with RHP Pablo López (2-3, 3.90), who is winless in four May starts despite pitching to a 3.75 ERA in 24 innings.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Patrick Donnelly, The Associated Press