Blue Jays overcome 5-run deficit, beat Twins 7-6, avoid sweep
Cavan Biggio hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-6 Sunday and avoid a three-game sweep.
Biggio's fifth homer of the season came off Emilio Pagán (3-1), who began the eighth by giving up singles to Alejandro Kirk and Santiago Espinal.
Matt Chapman added a two-run homer and had three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who are 8-3 in June.
Nate Pearson (4-0) allowed one hit in two scoreless innings, and Jordan Romano worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances, striking out Trevor Larnach to strand pinch runner Willi Castro at third base.
Donovan Solano homered for the AL Central-leading Twins, who failed to hold a 6-1, fifth-inning lead.
Minnesota's Royce Lewis had three hits, extending his streak of consecutive base hits to seven before striking out against Pearson in the seventh. Lewis went 4 for 4 Friday.
Minnesota's first six batters reached safely against Kevin Gausman, who gave up four runs and four hits in 36-pitch first inning. Alex Kirilloff hit an RBI double, two runs scored on Larnach's single, and Lewis drove in a run with an infield hit.
Gausman allowed six runs, seven hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt left in the fourth after being struck on the left forearm by Daulton Varsho's foul tip. First base umpire Brian Waslh moved behind the plate and Ryan Blakney went from second to first.
Before the inning ended, Toronto's Nathan Lukes lost control of his bat and the barrel struck Twins catcher Christian Vázquez, hitting him around the collarbone. Vázquez was shaken but remained in the game.
Varsho hit Walsh in the left shoulder with a foul tip in the seventh, but Walsh was able to continue.
Solano homered and Lewis singled home a run in the fifth as the Twins expanded their lead to five runs, but Chapman's ninth homer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s RBI grounder cut the margin to 6-4.
Minnesota put runners at second and third with two out in the sixth but the inning ended when Walsh called a pitch clock violation against Kirilloff with two strikes.
Twins starter Louie Varland allowed four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
