Twins tally seven times in third, even series with Blue Jays

Trevor Larnach hit a three-run homer, Joe Ryan pitched seven effective innings and the visiting Minnesota Twins defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan (2-1) allowed two runs, two hits and one walk while striking out five in seven innings.

Brooks Lee added a solo home run and a single to help the Twins gain a split of the opening two games of the three-game series.

Daulton Varsho and Jesus Sanchez each hit two-run homers for the Blue Jays. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contributed two hits and scored a run.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead after just two batters in the bottom of the first. Ryan walked George Springer in the first and Varsho drilled a home run to right.

The Twins scored all seven runs in the third against starter Eric Lauer (1-2).

Lee led off with a homer to left that bounced off the top of the wall and over. It was his second homer in two games.

Byron Buxton continued the rally with a one-out infield hit to third and he took second on Austin Martin's line-drive single to left. Luke Keaschall walked to load the bases and Ryan Jeffers also walked, forcing in a run the tying run.

Josh Bell blooped a two-run single to center that dropped in front of Varsho. One out later, Larnach launched his first homer of the season over the right field wall.

Lauer allowed seven runs, five hits and five walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Myles Straw hit for Springer in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Blue Jays announced that Springer had suffered a left big toe fracture after fouling a ball off his foot in the third inning.

After Guerrero singled to lead off the fourth, Ryan retired his final 12 batters in a row.

Kody Funderburk replaced Ryan in the eighth and worked around a single and a walk.

Guerrero started the Toronto ninth with a single against Cole Sands and Sanchez followed with a homer to right.

With Royce Lewis going on the injured list with a sprained knee, Ryan Kreidler started at third base for the Twins. He was 0-for-4 and made a superb defensive play on a grounder by Nathan Lukes to end the seventh.

--Field Level Media