The Toronto Blue Jays saw their streak of series wins come to an end on Sunday, falling 4-3 to the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis. Despite a dramatic ninth-inning rally, the team could not complete a comeback, settling for a split of the four-game series.
Okamoto's Late Blast Not Enough
Trailing 4-0 entering the ninth inning, the Blue Jays mounted a comeback attempt. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, who has been on a tear, launched a two-run home run to cut the deficit to one. The Japanese slugger now leads the team with nine homers, four of which have come in the last three games. However, the rally fell short when Lenyn Sosa grounded into a double play with runners on first and second, ending the game.
The loss prevented the Blue Jays from reaching the .500 mark for the first time since April 4, when they were 4-4. Manager John Schneider noted the missed opportunity, as the team had won six of their previous ten games and climbed into third place in the AL East.
Pitching Struggles
Starter Trey Yesavage, making his second start of the season after a shoulder impingement, struggled with command. He allowed five hits and three walks over four innings, throwing 82 pitches. Despite the traffic on the basepaths, he held the Twins to one run, striking out six. However, he could not pitch into the fifth inning, matching the shortest start of his career.
Reliever Braydon Fisher fared worse, surrendering three runs on three doubles in the fifth inning, giving the Twins a 4-0 lead. The Jays' offense managed only two singles through the first five innings, failing to capitalize on an early exit by Twins starter Joe Ryan, who left with right elbow soreness after two batters.
Springer's Injury Concern
George Springer was given a scheduled day off, but his status remains uncertain after X-rays on his left foot came back negative. Springer took a breaking ball off his foot on Friday, the same foot that had a broken toe earlier this season, sidelining him for 15 games. The team will not rush him back, given his toughness and the early date in the season.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jays travel to St. Petersburg, Florida, for a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who are one of two teams ahead of them in the division. Eric Lauer is expected to start the opener, followed by Kevin Gausman and Patrick Corbin. The return of Jose Berrios is uncertain after a poor rehab outing in Triple-A, where he allowed seven earned runs on six hits and four walks over 3.2 innings.
In other news, infielder Addison Barger hit a home run in his first rehab game after missing 25 games with an ankle sprain. Shortstop Arjun Nimmala, the team's No. 3 prospect, was promoted from Single-A Vancouver to Double-A New Hampshire. The Jays' first-round draft pick from 2023 is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut on Tuesday.
