Okamoto’s Two Homers Propel Blue Jays Past Twins 7-3

In Minneapolis, the Toronto Blue Jays sprinted past the Minnesota Twins 7-3 behind Kazuma Okamoto’s two-homer night. Yohendrick Pinango and Lenyn Sosa both picked up three hits in a group effort that felt electric from the start.

Patrick Corbin picked up his first win in Jays colors. Toronto’s middle-innings burst and a late push sealed the deal as Minnesota’s recent struggles dragged on.

The Jays showed off their power, depth, and a bit of stubborn resilience, even after the Twins answered early and tried to claw back.

Key moments fueling Toronto’s victory

The Blue Jays’ offense set the tone early, taking advantage of a throwing error and stringing together timely hits to grab control. After a two-run second inning, helped by a miscue at first base, Toronto never looked back.

The Jays widened their lead with some big swings later on. Minnesota tried to rally late, but Toronto held firm.

Okamoto’s night jumps off the box score, but the story’s bigger than one guy. Toronto leaned on good at-bats, smart situational hitting, and a bullpen that shut the door when Minnesota’s lineup started buzzing.

As Toronto built its lead, you could feel the dugout’s mood shift—from uncertainty to real confidence. That’s huge for a team fighting in a crowded AL East.

Kazuma Okamoto: Two-homer night lifts the Jays

Okamoto opened the fourth with a solo shot, breaking the scoreless tie and handing Toronto the lead. He didn’t stop there—his two-run homer in the fifth stretched the margin to 5-1 and set the tone for the rest of the night.

He nearly added a third homer in the ninth, sending one deep toward the warning track before a well-timed catch ended the threat. That near-miss just underscored the kind of power and timing Okamoto brings to this league.

The two homers carried the offense and reminded everyone why Okamoto belongs in the heart of Toronto’s order. In a season where the Jays have needed lineup flexibility and a little more pop, his performance showed a blueprint for success: mix power with patience and stay competitive in big moments.

Supporting performances: Pinango, Sosa and more

While Okamoto anchored the offense, Toronto’s other bats made sure the momentum didn’t fade. The lineup flexed its depth—this wasn’t a one-man show.

• Yohendrick Pinango: In just his fifth big-league game, Pinango collected three hits. His speed and contact kept Minnesota from zeroing in on the power guys. Pinango’s early impact hints at a bright, versatile future in Toronto’s lineup.
• Lenyn Sosa: Sosa matched a career high with three hits and brought a steady presence in the middle of the order. He helped the Jays stretch leads and kept the pressure on Minnesota’s pitching.
• Patrick Corbin (Blue Jays): The veteran lefty went 5 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs while scattering six hits and striking out four. His solid, efficient start let the bullpen finish the job.
• Byron Buxton: For Minnesota, Buxton stayed hot with a third-inning homer—his fourth in five games. He’s a constant threat when he’s locked in at the plate.

Twins’ night and pitching notes

Minnesota’s pitching just couldn’t keep up. Simeon Woods Richardson lasted only 4 2/3 innings, surrendering six runs (four earned). He’s failed to reach five innings in six of his last seven outings, and that’s pushed his ERA up to 6.49.

With the starter out early, Minnesota’s bullpen got exposed, and Toronto didn’t miss the chance to pile on.

Woods Richardson’s rough start

Richardson couldn’t slow down Toronto’s hitters early, giving up multiple runs as the Jays built a lead the bullpen would protect. The gap between Toronto’s power and Minnesota’s inconsistency was obvious from the first couple of frames.

The rest of the night just didn’t swing enough for Minnesota to climb back in.

What’s next for both teams

Looking ahead, Toronto will send Dylan Cease to the mound on Saturday. Minnesota plans to answer with Connor Prielipp.

This matchup should test each club’s strategic depth. The Jays have lineup flexibility, while the Twins get another look at their young lefty.

If Toronto keeps Okamoto swinging with power and Pinango making solid contact, they’ll probably feel pretty good about their spot in the crowded postseason race.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Okamoto goes deep twice as Blue Jays topple Twins