The Twins offense finally came alive Saturday and scored eight runs on eight hits, including three doubles and two home runs. That would’ve been plenty against most teams, but not when it comes to the Twins playing the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays banged out 12 hits for a 13-8 win.
And that was without Josh Donaldson, who is all-world when it comes to playing the Twins.
Twins starter Phil Hughes, who likely is headed to the bullpen when the season begins, gave up four runs, all earned, in two-plus innings of work. He also served up two home runs and exited with an ERA of 8.31. Reliever Tyler Duffey was little better, giving up the same number of runs but over a slightly longer outing, and saw his ERA balloon to 7.71.
The Blue Jays have feasted on Duffey’s pitching in the last couple of years. In his career, Duffey has pitched 10 innings against the Blue Jays and served up 16 earned runs for an ERA of 14.40, according to Baseball-Reference.com.
But it’s not just Duffey. As a team, the Twins have struggled against the Blue Jays, too, compiling a regular season record of 165-218, or a winning percentage of .431. This isn’t on the same level as the Twins’ futility against the New York Yankees, but it’s close.
Extra innings…
-More encouraging for the Twins was their 2-1 win over the Blue Jays on Friday. Starter Jake Odorizzi, who came to the Twins via a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, struck out three in two-plus innings, with no hits, runs or walks. Logan Morrison, also formerly of the Rays, tripled in Friday’s game, while Eddie Rosario hit a solo shot, his first of the spring.
-Jose Berrios gets his second start of the spring against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.