Staff and wire reports
MINNEAPOLIS
Despite finding himself in frequent precarious spots Saturday, starter Kyle Gibson managed to work out of them and help his Minnesota Twins pull out a 3-2 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The former Greenfield-Central star walked a tightrope, escaping numerous early jams in his 5.2 innings of work. He got the Blue Jays to hit into a double play in each of the first three innings and walked away from the contest with a no decision.
In relief, the Twins bullpen allowed only one single in 11 batters while striking out four. Ryan Pressly (2-1) picked up the victory with a scoreless seventh.
Gibson was in trouble often, but he leads the majors with 13 double-play groundballs, a skill that sure came in handy against the highest-scoring team in baseball.
After leadoff man Jose Reyes stole second and took third on a throwing error by catcher Chris Herrmann in the third inning, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out. Russell Martin hit a bouncer back to the mound for a 1-2-3 double play.
“That’s a tough team out there. They really make you work hard,” said the lanky right-hander, who finished the month of May with a 3-1 record and a 1.36 ERA in six starts.
After 10 total starts this season, he owns an ERA of 2.61, good for eighth in the American League.
Brian Dozier drove in the tie-breaking run with a triple in the seventh inning, and Blaine Boyer pitched a perfect ninth for his first save in a 3-2 victory by the Twins over the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Saturday, raising their home record to an AL-best 18-7.
Saturday’s victory lifted the Twins’ record to 29-19, a half game back of the American League Central-leading Kansas City Royals (29-18).
Up next
Gibson’s next scheduled start, his first in June, will be Thursday in Boston against the Red Sox. Gibson had arguably the best start of his career versus them last season. In his one and only career game against the Red Sox, he tossed seven shutout innings while striking out a career-high eight batters in a no decision.
June has been friendly month to Gibson in his short career. He owns a 3.14 career ERA in June, second only to his 2.43 ERA in May.
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The Minnesota Twins’ Kyle Gibson pitched 5.2 innings of two-run baseball against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The Greenfield-Central graduate’s pitching line against the Blue Jays, as well as for the season:
GM/YR;IP;H;R;ER;BB;SO;HR;ERA;W-L
Saturday;5.2;8;2;1;4;3;1;1.59;ND
Season;62.0;59;20;18;21;30;5;2.61;4-3
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