 career batting average in 35 games against Minnesota, with 15 doubles and 14 home runs.Morales opened the scoring with a leadoff blast off Dillon Gee in the second.Kepler's grand slam was the second of his career. The first came July 10, 2016, at Texas.Roberto Osuna pitched around Brian Dozier's RBI single in the ninth to earn his 34th save in 42 chances. A second run scored on Joe Mauer's double play grounder before Osuna ended it by retiring Jorge Polanco.Marco Estrada (6-8) allowed three runs in six innings to win for just the second time in 16 starts since May 27.Gee (1-1) took the loss in his second start with the Twins, allowing four runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.TRAINER'S ROOMTwins: C Jason Castro (concussion) is feeling better and may be able to return on schedule on Aug. 31, manager Paul Molitor said. Castro took three foul balls off his face mask in Wednesday night's loss to the Chicago White Sox, leaving after five innings.Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (left knee) remained in Florida following a series at Tampa Bay this week to continue his rehab at Toronto's spring training facility in nearby Dunedin. Travis, who has been out since June 4, had battled minor soreness, manager John Gibbons said. ... RHP Aaron Sanchez (blister) played catch Saturday and could throw off a mound soon, Gibbons said.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson (7-10, 5.76) allowed one run in seven innings to beat the White Sox in his previous outing, snapping a three-start winless streak.Blue Jays: RHP Joe Biagini is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Buffalo to face the Twins on Sunday. After three winless starts at Buffalo, Biagini allowed two runs in seven innings to beat Pawtucket last Tuesday.---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball)
Slumping Blue Jays look to cool Twins 40m ago• 3 min read TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is aware that the Minnesota Twins have a variety of weapons.He watched as the Twins put down three bunt singles -- two by center fielder Byron Buxton -- on their way to a 6-1 victory Friday night.It is just another thing the Blue Jays will need to heed Saturday afternoon when the teams play the second game of their three-game series at the Rogers Centre.The Twins also had a couple of doubles and a triple in maintaining their hold on the second American League wild card spot."They've got a good young team," Gibbons said after the game. "Very athletic, very talented. They play a good brand of baseball, a different brand of baseball than you see from a lot of teams in the big leagues -- especially in the American League -- and they do it well."They can make some things happen, they seem like a team that can manufacture runs because they've got a lot of team speed. They've had a great year." The Twins are 14-6 over their past 20 games and have the best record in the majors since Aug. 6. They ended a seven-game losing streak at the Rogers Centre with Friday's win.The Blue Jays are 1-6 in their past seven games, losing the opener of a six-game homestand after a 1-5 trip. They still have won 12 of their past 18 home games.The considerable talent of Buxton is a big factor in the Twins' success. He not only contributed three hits, two RBIs and a stolen base Friday, he also ended the eighth by making a diving catch on a line drive by Rob Refsnyder with two runners on base."You never want to take that for granted, to have that type of defense," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "A lot guys can play that position but he's special. The game is still in the balance if it gets over his head there. He shaded him that way but got an outstanding jump and closed on it. Just sheet athleticism." "I knew I got a got jump," Buxton said. "I saw it well, saw it tailing away from me. I knew I had a good chance of getting there and making a play." Added Gibbons: "He's got as much talent as anybody in the game. He can run you out of the park. Very impressive.The Twins will start right-hander Dillon Gee (1-0, 2.84 ERA) against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada (5-8, 5.07).Dillon Gee will be making his second start -- and sixth appearance -- with the Twins Saturday.He earned the win in his first career start for the Twins on Monday against the Chicago White Sox when he allowed one run on two hits in six innings. Gee signed with the Twins as a minor-league free agent June 22 after being designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers. He was 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA at Triple-A Rochester before being recalled by Minnesota on Aug. 1.Gee is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in two career starts against the Blue Jays.Estrada is an example of how the Blue Jays starting rotation has struggled this season after being one of the best in baseball in 2016.He has one win in his past 15 starts, going 1-6 with a 6.78 ERA, and the team is 5-10 in that span.Estrada is coming off a decent start against the Chicago Cubs Sunday when he allowed five hits, one walk and three runs in six innings in a no decision.He has gone winless in two starts since earning the decision over the New York Yankees on Aug. 10, which was his first win since May 27.Estrada is 1-2 with a 4.23 ERA in eight career games (six starts) against the Twins. Pitching with five days' rest in his career, he is 17-15 with a 3.82 ERA.
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