Pro Sports

Rosario's 2 homers, Mauer's slam drive Twins over Jays 13-7

Posted September 17, 2017 7:00 am

By BRIAN HALL

Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer, left, is greeted by Eddie Rosario following Mauer's grand slam off Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Chris Rowley in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Eddie Rosario homered twice, Joe Mauer hit a grand slam and the Minnesota Twins overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-7 Sunday and maintain control for the second AL wild card.

Minnesota trailed 5-0 in the second inning after Josh Donaldson's second homer.

Rosario and Byron Buxton hit consecutive homers to start the Twins' rally as Minnesota burst ahead with a seven-run bottom half that included Jorge Polanco's tiebreaking RBI grounder. Minnesota pulled away with six runs in the fifth against reliever Chris Rowley.

Minnesota began the day one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL wild card and closed within four games of the Yankees heading into a three-game series at New York that starts Monday.

Kyle Gibson (11-10) allowed five runs, three hits and five walks in six innings while tying a season high with eight strikeouts to help the Twins gain a four-game split.

Joe Biagini (3-11) gave up six runs - four earned - and five hits in 1 1/3 innings. He is 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA in two starts and two relief appearances against Minnesota.

Rosario also homered in the fifth for his fourth career multihomer game and went deep five times during the homestand. Mauer hit his fourth slam, his first since Sept. 1, 2012, at Kansas City and his first ever at home.

Donaldson had a go-ahead homer in the first, a drive into the third deck in left that would have traveled 476 feet, according to MLB Statcast. He reached 30 homers for the third straight season after hitting 29 in 2014.

Gibson walked four batters as Toronto took a 4-0 lead in the first, and Donaldson homered again in the second. He has an AL-high 21 home runs since the AL break, including consecutive multihomer games.

Gibson retired his final 13 batters while getting double-digit run support for the third time in four starts. Minnesota tied a franchise record by homering for the 16th consecutive game and has a major league-high 74 since Aug. 8.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: OF Steve Pearce missed his ninth straight game with back soreness.

Twins: Miguel Sano (left shin stress reaction) is traveling with the team to New York, then will return to Minnesota early as his slow recovery continues.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (11-8, 3.08 ERA) starts on Tuesday as Toronto begins its final homestand of the season with three games against Kansas City. Stroman lost his last start despite giving up two runs - none earned - in six innings against Baltimore. Kansas City counters with RHP Sam Gaviglio (4-5, 4.35).

Twins: RHP Ervin Santana (15-7, 3.35) starts for the Twins. New York goes with LHP Jaime Garcia (5-9, 4.35), who started one game for Minnesota this season after he was acquired from Atlanta and then was dealt to New York

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More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor, center left, celebrates Joe Mauer's grand slam off Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Chris Rowley in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

From left to right, Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer is welcomed by Robbie Grossman, Brian Dozier and Jason Castro following his grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins outfielders Eddie Rosario, left, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler, right, show their basketball three-point form after the Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 13-7 in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. Rosario hit two home runs in the game. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Richard Urena makes a futile attempt for the wide throw as Minnesota Twins' Eduardo Escobar steals second base in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Joe Biagini, facing camera, is pulled in the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer drives in two runs as he grounds into a fielder's choice off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Time Mayza in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson, foreground, celebrates his solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson, background right, in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson celebrates his solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) The Associated Press

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