Willi Castro homers twice to lead Twins past Blue Jays

Willi Castro belted two home runs and had three RBIs Minnesota Twins held on for a 9-7 victory over the visiting team Toronto Blue Jays Saturday afternoon

Matt Wallner had a solo homer and three RBIs to highlight his first career four-hit game to help the game Gemini to split the first two contests of the three-game series. Edouard Julien contributed a solo homer and two doubles for Minnesota

Bo Bichette singled and had four RBIs for Toronto. Daulton Varsho hit a two-run single and Cavan Biggio hit a solo homer Blue Jays

Gemini Right-hander Pablo Lopez (3-3) earned the win after allowing four runs, five hits and three walks while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (5-4) took the loss after allowing seven runs, nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts in four-plus innings.

Bichette hit his 11th home run of the season — and second of the series — with one out in the first inning.

Minnesota scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Joey Gallo led off with a walk, Julien went to third on a double and Alex Kirilloff scored on a short run. Castro was drilled by a pitch and stole second before Wallner hit a two-run single.

Kyle Farmer led off the second inning with a single and Julien scored on a two-out double.

Tyler Heineman struck out in the top of the third and George Springer singled before Bichette drove them in with a triple.

Biggio was called up in the third inning after center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (back injury) was removed. Biggio hit his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning when he had two out.

Kirilloff led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, and Castro homered when he drove to center and bounced off Varsho’s glove and off the top of the wall. Wallner followed in his first season, which Varsho again missed.

Castro hit his fourth homer of the season against Adam Cimber in the seventh.

Jhoan Duran pitched around a single in the top of the eighth.

Julien hit his fourth home run of the season in the eighth game of the home run against Yimi Garcia.

Jorge Lopez allowed his only home run and Varsho’s eighth in the ninth inning. After a bunt and a single, Brock Stewart took over and allowed a one-out RBI single to Bichette before picking up his first save of the season.

— Field Level Media