Twins Defeat Blue Jays in Rubber Match

Minnesota scores 8 runs over two innings to take series finale

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:10am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the colors of the Twins and Blue Jays uniforms.The Twins' series-clinching victory over the Blue Jays showcases the team's dynamic offense and resilient pitching staff.Boston Today

The Minnesota Twins defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 in the rubber match of their weekend series on Sunday. Twins starter Taj Bradley pitched 5 strong innings, striking out 7, to earn the win and improve to 3-0 on the season. Minnesota's offense erupted for 8 runs over the 5th and 6th innings, including a 3-run homer by Tristan Gray and a solo shot by Kody Clemens.

Why it matters

The Twins' series victory over the Blue Jays keeps them in the hunt in the competitive AL Central division, where they are now 9-7 on the season. Minnesota has won 5 of its last 6 games and will look to build on this momentum as they return home to face the Boston Red Sox.

The details

Twins starter Taj Bradley threw a career-high 106 pitches over 5 innings, giving up just 1 run while striking out 7. Rookie reliever Andrew Morris made his MLB debut, pitching 3 innings and allowing 1 run. Justin Topa closed out the game with a scoreless 9th inning. On offense, Tristan Gray hit a 3-run homer, Kody Clemens added a solo shot, and Brooks Lee drove in 2 runs as part of Minnesota's 8-run outburst.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 13, 2026.

The players

Taj Bradley

The Twins' starting pitcher, who earned the win by throwing 5 strong innings with 7 strikeouts.

Andrew Morris

Twins rookie reliever who made his MLB debut, pitching 3 innings and allowing 1 run.

Tristan Gray

Twins outfielder who hit a 3-run homer as part of Minnesota's 8-run outburst.

Kody Clemens

Twins infielder who hit a solo home run in the game.

Brooks Lee

Twins infielder who drove in 2 runs in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“It was a big win for us to take the series against a tough opponent like the Blue Jays. Our pitching and offense both came through when we needed it most.”

— Taj Bradley, Twins Starting Pitcher

What’s next

The Twins will now return home to Target Field to host the Boston Red Sox in a 3-game series starting on Monday, April 14th at 6:40pm.

The takeaway

The Twins' series win over the Blue Jays keeps them in the hunt in the AL Central and builds momentum as they return home to face another tough opponent in the Red Sox. Minnesota's strong pitching and timely hitting were key factors in the victory.