Twins bump Blue Jays back in wild card race, as Gurriel hurt
Nick Gordon drove in four runs and Michael Pineda won his third straight start as the Minnesota Twins beat Toronto 7-2 on Thursday night to bump the Blue Jays back in the AL wild-card race.
The loss was especially costly for Toronto, which fell a full game behind New York for the second spot and three games behind wild-card leader Boston. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. exited in the fifth inning after teammate Randal Grichuk accidentally stepped on his right hand in the outfield.
Blue Jays starter Steven Matz (13-8) lost for the first time in eight turns, finishing just three innings with seven hits and two walks allowed. He needed 80 pitches to get that far, and Toronto - with manager Charlie Montoyo serving a one-game suspension - turned the game over to the bullpen trailing 2-1.
Teoscar Hernandez tied it in the fourth with his 30th homer off a first-pitch slider from Pineda, but the game unraveled for the Blue Jays in the fifth. Gordon greeted reliever Julian Merryweather with a three-run homer, but there was significant damage done just before that.
On a double by Mitch Garver - who was 3 for 4 with an RBI - to the gap, Grichuk grabbed the ball to make a quick throw to the infield to keep Josh Donaldson from scoring. As Gurriel crouched down to give him space, Grichuk's cleat landed on Gurriel's hand during the follow-through.
Blood was dripping from his middle finger as Grichuk knelt next to him, before a team athletic trainer arrived for assessment and heavily wrapped the hand in a towel before Gurriel walked off. The Blue Jays said X-rays revealed no breaks, but he needed two stitches.
Thomas Hatch, who replaced Matz for the fourth, exited with right hamstring discomfort in the fifth trailing 3-2 right before Gordon broke the game open with his fourth homer of the season.
WILD FINISH
Five teams are still within striking distance of the two wild cards. The Red Sox (88-65) and Yankees (86-67) were idle. Seattle (84-69) pulled within one game of Toronto (85-68) and two of New York by beating Oakland (82-71).
The Blue Jays play three more times at Minnesota this weekend, before returning home for their final six games - three against the Yankees and three against AL-worst Baltimore. New York plays a three-game series at Boston starting on Friday and concludes the regular season at home with a three-game series against AL East leader Tampa Bay.
MISSED CHANCES
The Blue Jays left 11 runners on base, one in each of the first eight innings. Corey Dickerson, who replaced Gurriel, was thrown out at home by left fielder Luis Arraez to end the sixth. George Springer lined out sharply to the pitcher with the bases loaded to end the eighth after Ralph Garza entered in relief for the Twins.
BIG MIKE
Pineda gave up eight hits, two runs and one walk in five innings. The right-hander, who can become a free agent this fall, also picked up the victory with three scoreless innings on Sept. 6 at Cleveland in his first career major league relief appearance.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: Springer was the DH again, going 0 for 5 while still working his way back to full strength following a left knee sprain that kept him out from Aug. 15-29. He has not played CF since before the injury, which sent him to the injured list for a third time this season.
Twins: RF Max Kepler left the game in the fourth inning due to an illness unrelated to COVID-19.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Jose Berrios (12-8, 3.45 ERA) will start on Friday night, facing his former team for the second time in less than a week. He beat the Twins with three runs allowed over 6 2/3 innings in Toronto on Sunday, but this will be his first time on the mound at Target Field as a visitor.
“It's emotional, but it's my work, so I have to go out and do my work,” said Berrios, who is 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA in his last five turns. He was honored before the game with a tribute video on the scoreboard and a hearty ovation from the crowd.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.