Twins trying to win series at Jays for first time since 2014 (Aug 27, 2017)
TORONTO -- The Minnesota Twins have won one series at the Rogers Centre in the past 10 years.
That was in 2014 when they rook two out of three from the Toronto Blue Jays on June 9-11.
They have a chance to match their feat of three years ago Sunday afternoon when they play the rubber match of their three-game series against the Blue Jays.
The Twins have lost eight of their past nine games at the Rogers Centre after the Blue Jays held off their comeback attempt Saturday for a 10-9 victory.
Minnesota did end a seven-game losing streak at the Rogers Centre on Friday with a 6-1 win.
The Blue Jays will recall right-hander Joe Biagini (3-8, 5.11 ERA) from Triple-A Buffalo to make the start on Sunday while the Twins will send out right-hander Kyle Gibson (7-10, 5.76).
The one player the Twins will need to stop is Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson who had three hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBIs Saturday. Donaldson showed he can do it all when he put down a bunt in the third for one of his hits.
"You've got a guy with 35 homers (Justin Smoak) behind him," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "They've got a good lineup. It's tough to pitch too carefully to any one guy because the next guy can do damage.
"He's been on a good run. We've seen him do it before. He's had a lot of success against us, it seems like. His hits and also showed his base running instincts when he scored on a wild pitch in the eighth."
"He's a very good base runner," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's got great instincts. He's just got a feel of the whole game. He's got a complete game, not everybody has that but he does."
Donaldson has a career OPS of 1.262 against the Twins. After going 3-for-5 Saturday, Donaldson is batting .376 (50-for-133) with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in 35 career games against the Twins.
Twins starter Dillion Gee was a victim of Donaldson on Saturday, giving up a two-run homer that started a six-run fifth.
"Really the pitch I just wish I had back was the one to Donaldson in the fifth," Gee said. "We were trying to go in but, looking back, I just think that was the wrong pitch choice for me. I shook to it so it's on me, for sure. I wish I would have done something different. He's always a threat, he's a big power threat. That's what he's known for, driving in runs with the long ball."
"I put a pretty good swing on it," Donaldson said. "I've been getting pounded in pretty much the last five or six games. It was nice to make somewhat of an adjustment and get the barrel on the ball."
Donaldson has been hot against all opposition with eight homers in his past 13 games.
In his second season in the majors, Biagini has been used in both relief and in the starting rotation. In his rookie season, 2016, he was used only in relief.
He will return to the Blue Jays rotation Sunday.
He began the season in the bullpen, was pressed into a starting role because of injuries in the rotation and then returned to the bullpen. He was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo, where he was 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA, in four starts.
Biagini is 2-7 with a 5.60 ERA in 11 starts with Toronto this season and is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 26 relief outings.
He is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career relief outings against the Twins.
In three career starts against the Blue Jays, Gibson is 1-1 with a 4.94 ERA.
He had a season-best eight strikeouts Tuesday when he allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings in a win over the Chicago White Sox. It was the fifth time in his career that he has recorded eight strikeouts.
Gibson as had two stints with Triple-A Rochester this season, going 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts. He was recalled Aug. 4 after being optioned on July 25.
