Blue Jays 4, Twins 3: Kelly Johnson hit a two-run homer and Chad Jenkins pitched five solid innings for his first major-league win, as host Toronto beat Minnesota for the second consecutive game to ensure the Blue Jays will finish outside the American League East cellar.
Rajai Davis and Yunel Escobar added RBI singles for the Blue Jays, who moved 2 1/2 games clear of last-place Boston in the division.
Jenkins (1-3) allowed two runs on five hits in his third big-league start. Casey Janssen worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his 22nd save.
Twins starter Anthony Swarzak (3-6) was charged with four runs on five hits over five innings. He walked three and allowed Johnson's 16th homer.
Denard Span hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Alexi Casilla added an RBI double for the Twins. Ben Revere was 3-for-4 for Minnesota.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Johnson's strikeout in the second inning was his 159th of the season, tying Jose Canseco's franchise record set in 1998. … Twins C/DH Joe Mauer tied a career high by playing in his 146th game of the season. He went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .320 - 11 points behind Miguel Cabrera - to all but end his bid for a fourth AL batting title. … Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion (muscle strain) missed his second straight game and is considered day-to-day for Wednesday's season finale.
Minnesota | Toronto | |
Anthony Swarzak | Player | Chad Jenkins |
Loss | W/L | Win |
5.0 | IP | 5.0 |
2 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 5 |
7.20 | ERA | 3.60 |
Minnesota | Toronto | |
Ben Revere | Player | Kelly Johnson |
3 | Hits | 1 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 4 |
.750 | Avg | .333 |