Kazuma Okamoto put on a show for the ages Friday night, launching two home runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a commanding 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins. The Japanese slugger, who signed a blockbuster four-year, $60 million contract with Toronto in January, delivered his first multi-homer game in the majors, thrilling fans and proving why he was worth every penny.
Okamoto started the fireworks in the fourth inning with a solo shot to lead off the frame, then added a two-run blast in the fifth to extend Toronto's lead to 6-2. The 11-year veteran of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, where he crushed 248 home runs, nearly made it a three-homer night in the ninth, but his deep fly ball died on the warning track.
Okamoto wasn't the only Blue Jay swinging a hot bat. Yohendrick Pinango, playing in just his fifth career game, collected three hits, while Lenyn Sosa matched a career high with three hits of his own. The offensive explosion gave veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin all the support he needed.
Corbin, who signed with Toronto on April 3 to shore up an injury-depleted rotation, earned his first win in a Blue Jays uniform. He allowed just two earned runs over 5 1/3 innings, scattering six hits and striking out four. Corbin made 30 starts for the Texas Rangers last season and has brought much-needed stability to a staff that has been battered by early-season injuries.
For the Twins, Byron Buxton continued his scorching hot streak, homering for the fourth time in five games. His two-run shot in the third inning tied the score at 2-2, and his nine home runs since April 13 are tied for the most in baseball with Munetaka Murakami. But it wasn't enough to stop Minnesota's slide, as the Twins lost for the 12th time in their last 15 games.
The Blue Jays grabbed an early lead in the second inning when a throwing error by Twins first baseman Josh Bell allowed Daulton Varsho and Sosa to score on a fielder's choice. Minnesota loaded the bases in the seventh against reliever Jeff Hoffman but managed just one run on a Ryan Jeffers sacrifice fly.
Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson continued his early-season struggles, failing to pitch beyond five innings for the sixth time in seven outings. He allowed six runs (four earned) in 4 2/3 innings, pushing his ERA to 6.49.
The series continues Saturday with right-hander Dylan Cease (1-1, 2.87 ERA) taking the mound for Toronto against Minnesota lefty Connor Prielipp (1-0, 4.00 ERA).