Mauer Goes Hitless, Twins Lose 4-3 In Toronto
TORONTO (AP) — Chad Jenkins earned his first major league win, Kelly Johnson hit a two-run home run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Making his third career start, Jenkins (1-3) allowed two runs and five hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out two.
Three-time batting champion Joe Mauer went hitless in three at-bats, dropping his average to .320. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is leading the batting race, hitting .331. Angels rookie Mike Trout is second.
Aaron Loup, Steve Delabar and Darren Oliver all worked one inning before Casey Janssen finished for his 22nd save in 25 chances, handing the Twins their fourth straight defeat.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the third when Adeiny Hechavarria led off with a double and came around on a single by Rajai Davis.
Toronto tacked on two more in the fourth. J.P. Arencibia hit a two-out single and Johnson followed with a homer to right-center off Anthony Swarzak, his 16th.
Johnson's shot came one at-bat after he was caught looking in the second for his 159th strikeout of the season, matching Jose Canseco's team record set in 1998.
Toronto used speed on the bases to open a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Anthony Gose drew a one-out walk and was running when Davis grounded to short. Gose went all the way to third as Davis was thrown out, and scored when Yunel Escobar followed with a base hit to left.
The Twins cut the deficit in half and chased Jenkins in the sixth. Eduardo Escobar led off with a single and Denard Span swatted a two-run homer to right, his fourth.
Loup came on and gave up a single to Ben Revere. But Mauer struck out, Revere was caught stealing and Chris Parmalee grounded out.
Minnesota made it 4-3 with a run in the seventh off Delabar. Trevor Plouffe led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out double by Alexi Casilla.
Starting in place of Samuel Deduno, who left his last outing with an irritated left eye, Swarzak (3-6) gave up four runs and five hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out two.
NOTES: Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion (sore left shoulder and neck) did not start for the second straight game. ... Revere had three singles but was picked off first base in both the sixth and eighth. ... Twins reliever Luis Perdomo was struck by Davis' comebacker in the eighth but remained in the game. ... Toronto manager John Farrell said he expects his coaching staff to return intact next season. ... Twins LHP Scott Diamond (12-8) faces RHP Brandon Morrow (9-7) in Wednesday's season finale. Diamond, who was born in nearby Guelph, Ontario, will be pitching in Toronto for the first time.
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