The Minnesota Twins held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Target Field, a game overshadowed by the early exit of starting pitcher Joe Ryan due to right elbow soreness.
Ryan's early departure
Ryan, who had been a key part of the Twins' rotation this season, left the game after just three innings. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out three before being pulled. The team later announced that he was experiencing elbow soreness, and he will be evaluated further.
The Twins' bullpen stepped up in his absence, with four relievers combining to allow just one run over the final six innings. Jhoan Duran earned his 10th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
Game highlights
Minnesota took an early lead in the first inning when Carlos Correa drove in a run with a double. The Blue Jays answered in the second on a home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his 12th of the year. The Twins regained the lead in the third on a two-run single by Byron Buxton.
Toronto tied the game in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Bo Bichette, but the Twins pulled ahead for good in the fifth when Max Kepler scored on a wild pitch by Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman.
Gausman (3-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Injury concern
The biggest concern for the Twins is Ryan's elbow. The right-hander has been one of the team's most reliable starters, posting a 3.45 ERA in eight starts this season. Any extended absence would be a significant blow to Minnesota's playoff aspirations.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said after the game that Ryan will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury. "We're hopeful it's nothing serious, but we'll know more in the coming days," Baldelli said.
The Twins improved to 22-12 with the win, while the Blue Jays fell to 18-16.
