Santana homers, Ober fans 10 as red-hot Twins beat Blue Jays 5-1 for 17th win in 20 games

TORONTO – In a dazzling display of skill and perseverance, Carlos Santana smashed a three-run homer, while Bailey Ober delivered a masterclass performance with 10 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball, propelling the Minnesota Twins to a resounding 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

The win marked the Twins’ 17th triumph in their last 20 games, a remarkable feat underscoring their recent surge in form. Notably, this marked their first six-series winning streak since September 2010, a testament to their resilience after a rocky start to the season where they dropped 13 of their initial 20 games.

Reflecting on the team’s remarkable turnaround, Ober remarked, “Seventeen in 20 is pretty cool to hear, especially where we started at. I think everyone is just taking it day by day and excited to show up and go out there and play.”

Santana’s blast, his third consecutive game with a homer, extended the Twins’ streak of games with at least one home run in Toronto to 20. Meanwhile, Max Kepler contributed to the offensive onslaught with a two-run double, extending his career-best hitting streak to 14 games.

The pivotal moment of the game came in the seventh inning when Kepler capitalized on a fielding error, setting the stage for Santana’s heroics. Ober’s stellar pitching performance kept the Blue Jays at bay, allowing just one hit until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke through with a single in the fourth inning.

Ober’s dominance on the mound was highlighted by his aggressive approach, particularly after navigating through a challenging first inning. Manager Rocco Baldelli praised Ober’s performance, emphasizing his control and effectiveness throughout the game.

Despite Ober’s departure after the seventh inning, the Twins bullpen held firm, with Kody Funderburk stepping up to extinguish a late threat from the Blue Jays. In his second start of the season, Alek Manoah showcased promise for the Blue Jays, surrendering three unearned runs over seven innings.

As the Twins look ahead to their next challenge against the Yankees, and the Blue Jays prepare to face the Orioles, both teams remain poised to build upon their recent successes, fueled by the determination to continue their winning ways on the diamond.