Twins beat Jays to end Toronto's eight-game win streak

TORONTO — Kyle Garlick and Jose Miranda hit two homers apiece as the Minnesota Twins beat Toronto 9-3 on Friday night to end the Blue Jays' eight-game winning streak.

Byron Buxton also went deep for the visitors, who outhit Toronto 12-4.

Twins starter Chi Chi Gonzalez gave up homers to George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., in his three-inning season debut. The Minnesota bullpen took care of the rest, holding the Blue Jays without a hit over the remaining six frames.

It was just the fourth loss in 16 games for Toronto (30-21). The Blue Jays fell to 17-9 at Rogers Centre this season.

Minnesota (31-23), currently tops in the American League Central, ended its three-game losing skid. Jharel Cotton (1-1) worked two shutout innings of relief while Jovani Moran, Tyler Duffey, Joe Smith and Griffin Jax each tossed one inning.

Toronto starter Yusei Kikuchi (2-2) struggled early as he gave up three straight one-out hits. A Garlick homer was sandwiched by a pair of singles as Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Springer answered in the bottom half by hitting his 49th career leadoff homer, moving him into fourth place on Major League Baseball's all-time list.

Bo Bichette followed with a double and scored on a single by Teoscar Hernandez, who entered play on a 10-for-26 tear over his last seven games.

Kikuchi gave up solo shots in each of the next two innings. Miranda restored Minnesota's lead and Garlick went deep again for his sixth homer of the year.

Guerrero cut Minnesota's lead to 4-3 with a laser of a solo shot in the third inning. The 421-foot homer left his bat with a game-high exit velocity of 114.4 miles per hour.

Kikuchi lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs. He had six strikeouts.