Toronto Blue Jays defeat Minnesota Twins 3-0 – MLB Update
American League’s Toronto Blue Jays put in a brilliant performance as they defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-0 in their Grapefruit League game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Sunday, March 20.
The Blue Jays, after coming from a 5-5 game against the New York Yankees defeated the Twins for a second time making their 12th win in spring while Minnesota lost their 10th outing.
Right handed pitcher Jesse Litsch, holding 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, made his fourth start in spring and crushed the Twins’ line-up. Litsch, vying for spot in the rotation, pitched in just over five innings struck-out seven batters without allowing any run.
The performance has put the 26-year-old into the best possible position of players competing for a rotation spot. Jo-Jo Reyes and Kyle Drabek are in line with Litsch for landing a spot in rotation. Drabek will make it to the Minor League on Monday and Reyes
on Wednesday against the Yankees.
Litsch talked to reporters about his latest contribution. "Everything was sharp today, everything felt good, my arm felt great, body felt great," Litsch said. “It's a game. You are going to have bad ones; you are going to have good ones. It's a matter of
just staying focused and doing your job when you're out there."
Twins’ pitchers except, Scott Baker and Jeff Manship, did not provided batters enough room to score a run. Baker, competing for the fifth spot in rotation, struck-out six and allowed one run on three hits in four innings. Scott, making his fourth starts
of spring, moved to 1-3 with 2.84 after the game from 1-2 with 3.12.
"We're just trying to gauge that he's healthy and getting out there," Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire said, "and right now it looks like he's feeling good and the ball's coming out good. He will make two or three pitches and you are like 'What is he doing?
And then all of a sudden, boom, boom, boom -- some of the nastiest pitches in the world.’"
Manship, who struck-out three batters in one inning, allowed two runs including a two-run homer posted by first baseman Travis Snider in the eighth inning. Toronto led off the game with a run in the first inning when Jose Bautista hammered to left-field
for a double followed by Adam Lind’s single. Alexi Casilla’s chip to centre helped in completing the first run.
The Blue Jays managed to contain the Twins’ offence from getting any big hits. Minnesota will be looking to improve their performance before the regular season begins.
Blue Jays will enjoy a day off on Monday, March 21 while the Twins will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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