(My Sportsbook) - The
Toronto Blue Jays hope to continue their recent mastery of the
Minnesota Twins this evening, when the teams continue their four-game set at the Metrodome.
Toronto won all six of its games with the Twins last season and has won 10 in a row against them, as well as victories in six of its last eight visits to Minneapolis.
That trend continued in the series opener on Monday, when Travis Snider belted a pair of homers, including the go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning, as Toronto banged out 19 hits in an 8-6 win.
Aaron Hill, Alex Rios and Scott Rolen each had three hits, while Lyle Overbay added a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays, who have won four of their last five games and moved to 6-2 on the season.
The Jays' 54 runs this season are the most in the majors.
Reliever Jason Frasor (1-0) got the win for Toronto and B.J. Ryan closed it out in the ninth for his first save of the season.
All the news was not great, though, as Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch was forced to leave the game in the fourth inning with right forearm tightness after he gave up seven hits and four runs. He will be re-evaluated on Tuesday.
Kevin Slowey was pounded for 13 hits and five runs over 5 1/3 innings for Minnesota, which has lost three in a row. Luis Ayala (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs and four hits in the eighth inning.
Jason Kubel hit a solo homer and had two RBI for the Twins, who have not beaten the Blue Jays since an 8-5 home victory on June 28, 2007.
Getting the call for the Blue Jays tonight will be rookie left-hander Ricky Romero, who pitched well in his big league debut Thursday against Detroit. Romero, a first-round pick of the Jays in 2005, surrendered two runs and seven hits in six innings to get the win in that one.
The Twins, meanwhile, will counter with a former first-round pick of their own in lefty Glen Perkins, who lost his season debut Thursday against the Seattle Mariners despite a terrific effort. Perkins, who went 12-4 last season, gave up just a run and five hits in eight innings of his team's 2-1 loss.
Perkins has faced the Jays twice without getting a decision, but has pitched to a 4.91 ERA in those outings.
