Toronto hit three two-run home runs, including two in a seven-run first inning, and José Berríos pitched six scoreless innings as the Blue Jays defeated the Minnesota Twins 15-0 on Saturday night.
Daulton Varsho and Spencer Horwitz each hit a two-run home run in the first inning off Twins starter Zebby Matthews (1-2), giving the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead with just four batters in.
Toronto added three more runs in that inning off Matthews to go up 7-0 before the Twins even had a chance to bat.
“I felt like towards the end of the game, everybody was running to the bat rack to try and get in there,” Horwitz said. “When you get that energy and the offense kind of rolling, it’s contagious and I think we saw that tonight.”
Matthews lasted just one more inning in his fourth career start. He gave up another two-run homer in the second inning, this time to Addison Barger, making it 9-0 Toronto.
“It’s obviously very frustrating,” Matthews said. “My job is to go out there and give the team the best chance to win and I didn’t do that tonight.”
With losses by Cleveland and Kansas City, Minnesota stays 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Guardians and one game behind the second-place Royals in the American League Central.
Saturday’s game tied a Blue Jays franchise record for the largest shutout win. Toronto set season highs for both runs (15) and hits (23).
That was more than enough for Berríos (14-9), who was effective against his former team. The right-hander allowed only three hits, all singles, and struck out five in six innings.
