Blue Jays continue to roll, rallying to topple the Twins in series opener

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The red-hot Blue Jays show no signs of cooling down.

Following a 6-1 homestand, the Jays took their act on the road and continued their recent surge with a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis.

In a potential wild-card playoff preview, the Jays came back to topple the Twins, 6-4, at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Since being swept in Tampa late last month, losing 13-0 in the series finale, the Jays have gone 9-2 in their past 11 games and remain tied for second place in the AL East with the Devil Rays.

The team is playing its best baseball of the season, despite missing two big bats, while managing a pitching staff dealing with issues to its starting rotation.

The following are three takeaways on a night when George Springer took the club lead in home runs with nine, when he went deep for a solo shot in the sixth inning and both teams emerged from the game with 34-29 records.

1. Bam bam Barger

Whenever Anthony Santander returns to the lineup, under no circumstances should Addison Barger move down in the order.

Hitting third has suited Barger, who deserve credit for taking advantage of the opportunity with Santander injured.

He’s reached this stage where every plate appearance is a must-see, each swing, even when he’s chasing, is liable to leave the yard.

He came close in his first at-bat against Twins starter Bailey Ober and then, with the Jays down 3-0, crushed a two-run no-doubter for his seventh homer of the season.

During the team’s recent homestand, Barger launched a home run in four straight games.

When Santander does return from his shoulder injury, the Jays’ lineup should be even deeper considering Daulton Varsho (hamstring) will also be back at some point.

The surprise bat, however, has belonged to Barger, who has emerged as a legitimate power presence.

2. Dressed to the nines

The elephant in the Jays’ room continues to be Andres Gimenez, whether he likes it or not.

It’s not his fault the Cleveland Guardians gave him seven-year contract extension worth $106.5 million US  two years ago. It’s not his fault the Blue Jays acquired his services this past off-season in a trade.

The problem has been his bat. And despite his prowess with the glove at second base, his offensive contributions — aside from those three home runs in his first five games for Toronto — have been minimal.

In Wednesday’s 2-1 win over visiting Philadelphia, Gimenez emerged as the only Blue Jay to record a multi-hit game that raised his average above .200 for the first time since April 20.

On Friday night, batting ninth — which seems only right — he drew a two-out walk in the third inning. Then, with Ernie Clement on first with a walk in the fifth, Gimenez stroked a long double off the base of the wall in right-centre that Twins’ outfielder Matt Wallner misplayed, leaving runners at second an third.

Both Clement and Gimenez, who made a great read on the play, scored on Bo Bichette’s bloop single.

3. Pleading the fifth

Eventually, the Jays will have to identify a fifth starter and move past these bullpen-game days.

For now, there’s no movement afoot to send down a struggling Bowden Francis, who failed to make it out of the second inning in his most recent start.

The Jays took a flyer on veteran Max Scherzer, even though they were fully aware of his injury history. His time with the Blue Jays, so far, has amounted to three innings but he is getting closer to a return, and is scheduled to throw up to 55 pitches on Sunday at the team’s complex in Florida.

Relying on three stalwarts as starters is not sustainable.

Paxton Schultz started Friday and it didn’t go particularly well. Through six batters, the right-hander surrendered a home run, a single and a double and while he lasted two innings, he gave up three runs on four hits.

Lefty Eric Lauer took over in the third and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Brendon Little had a tough inning in the eighth, while closer Jeff Hoffman did issue a two-out walk in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate before he sealed the deal.

Up next

The Twins haven’t exactly been Kevin Gausman’s kryptonite, but at the same time the right-hander hasn’t exactly excelled. He lasted only 3.0 innings in one of his two starts against Minny last season and in his past four outings vs. the Twins, has never made it past the sixth inning … Jays’ new hitting coach David Popkins was poached from the Twins, a familiarity that should come in handy this series … First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m., on Saturday.