MLB: Édouard Julien contributes to the misfortune of the Blue Jays with his 4th home run of the season

Quebecer Édouard Julien hit his fourth homer of the season on Saturday afternoon in a 9-7 Minnesota Twins win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Julien hit the long ball in the eighth inning, to increase the Twins’ lead to 9-4 at that point. Julien finished the game with two runs scored, three hits and two RBIs. Julien had hit a double that produced a run in the sixth inning.

Willi Castro contributed for the Twins with two homers, three runs scored and three RBIs, while Matt Wallner drove in four runs on three hits. One of Castro’s slaps hit Daulton Varsho’s glove before ending up beyond the center field fence in the fifth.

“One of those games where it was all or nothing,” Varsho said. I had it and then it came out of my glove when I hit the fence. »

Alex Kiriloff and Kyle Farmer had two hits apiece. Julien, Walner, Kiriloff and Farmer have spent time with St. Paul in the AAA this year.

“When you go to the branch, you want those guys to help you win,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. It’s a bonus when they take control like they did today. »

In the Blue Jays’ court, Bo Bichette drove in three hits and drove in four of the Blue Jays’ seven points. It moved to a duplicate of the carousel.

The Blue Jays came close to tying the game in the ninth inning, but their push was stopped at three runs. First Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer, then Bichette drove in a run on a single. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Brandon Belt were taken out, however, and the Jays’ comeback hopes were dashed, leaving two men on the trails.

The Twins notably took advantage of two three-point drives, in the first and then in the fifth inning, to win.

On the mound, Chris Bassitt had a tough day on the job and allowed nine hits and seven earned runs in four innings of work. He suffered his fourth loss in nine decisions this season.

On the Twins’ side, starter Pablo Lopez allowed five hits and four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings of work in the win.

In the game, the Jays lost the services of outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who left the game due to lower back discomfort. It’s unclear when Kiermaier was injured, but his discomfort could have been caused by two long stints in the game.

Kiermaier was taken out of the game before his appearance at bat in the third inning. Kiermaier has produced 15 points in 42 games this season and is batting .315.

Sunday’s starting pitchers will be Jose Berrios and Bailey Ober.