Blue Jays at Twins
Eric Sogard enjoyed a successful debut with Toronto and hopes to keep proving he belongs on the big stage when the Blue Jays continue their four-game series against the host Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Sogard was called up from Triple-A Buffalo to replace the struggling Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.175 average in 40 at-bats) and went 3-for-5 with two runs scored batting leadoff and playing third base in Toronto's 6-5 victory Tuesday.
“It’s been something that I’ve dealt with my whole career, just coming in and showing them and having to make the team,” Sogard, a career .239 hitter who previously played with Oakland and Milwaukee, told reporters in spring training. The Blue Jays' Teoscar Hernandez continues to work his way out of an early season slump with the go-ahead two-run single Tuesday and is 4-for-7 with a home run and five RBIs in the series. Minnesota's Marwin Gonzalez was given Monday off after starting the campaign 5-for-34 with nine strikeouts and responded by going 2-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday. The Twins' Jake Odorizzi takes the ball Wednesday after carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning of his last start and opposes Trent Thornton, who was roughed up in his third outing after starting his career with two strong turns.
TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS North
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Trent Thornton (0-1, 4.61 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 6.35)
Thornton allowed five runs and eight hits (three homers) in three innings of an 11-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. The 25-year-old North Carolina native yielded a total of two runs, five hits and two walks while striking out 15 over 10 2/3 frames in earning no-decisions in his first two outings. "I've just got to prove to the front office and my teammates and coaches that I belong here," Thornton told reporters. "I've worked hard and I do what needs to be done. Ultimately if I pitch well, I kind of have to make (the Jays) make a decision. I just want to help the team win in any way possible. If I can continue to go out there and prove that, I think I should be all right."
Odorizzi permitted three runs, one hit and walked four in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-6 loss to the Mets in New York on April 10. Odorizzi struggled with his command for the second straight game after allowing five runs (four earned), two hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning in a 10-4 setback at Philadelphia on April 4. Toronto's Justin Smoak is 2-for-21 with a double and a home run against Odorizzi, who is 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 games versus the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto has scored 38 runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings this season and 29 during the first six frames.
2. Minnesota RHP Tyler Duffey pitched two scoreless innings in his season debut Tuesday after he was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.
3. The Blue Jays (7-11), who have won three of their last four games, are in position to win their first series of the season after going 0-3-2 in the first five.