Kazuma Okamoto Hits Two Home Runs To Lead Blue Jays to 7-3 Win Over Twins [ldydFQgIu5h]
Three weeks ago, if the Toronto Blue Jays had dropped the opening game of a series 7 - 1, it would have felt almost guaranteed they were going to lose game two. The offense was struggling, the pitching was inconsistent, and there was very little confidence. Now, coming off three straight series wins, they are finding ways to respond, bouncing back with a 7 - 3 win over the Minnesota Twins. Patrick Corbin gave them another solid outing, going five and a third and allowing just two runs. He is quietly becoming one of the best acquisitions this season, giving the team the kind of steady presence many expected from Max Scherzer. Fourteen years into his career, he is not the pitcher he once was, but he brings consistency and confidence every time he takes the mound. His only real hiccup came in a rushed debut, and since then he has settled in. Kazuma Okamoto deserves a lot of credit. The Blue Jays home run leader went deep twice and drove in three runs, while also making strong defensive plays. Over the past few series, he has delivered in big moments and is clearly adjusting to Major League pitching, showing power not just with home runs, but with extra base hits. Yohendrick Piñango continues to impress. He went three for four with two RBIs and looks comfortable at the plate. Even his outs are competitive, working counts and putting pressure on pitchers. He does not look overwhelmed, and he is making a strong case to stay when decisions have to be made. Jeff Hoffman’s line does not tell the full story. He allowed a run, but bad luck extended the inning. It was more bad luck than poor performance, and overall it was a positive outing. Lenyn Sosa added three hits and scored twice, and that really speaks to what this win was. It was a total team effort. The top of the lineup was quiet, key regulars were not the driving force, and yet they still found a way to put up seven runs. Contributions came from all over the roster, from timely hitting to solid pitching to steady defense. That is the kind of win that shows growth, and it is something this team did not have early in the season. #mlb #baseball #toronto #bluejays #twins