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George Springer hit his team-leading 10th home run of the season, driving in two runs in the eighth inning to help the Blue Jays rally past the Twins 5-4 Saturday.
Relief pitcher Chad Green (2-1) tossed a scoreless seventh to pick up the win. Jeff Hoffman grabbed his 15th save but gave up a solo homer to Kody Clemens to lead off the ninth.
Kevin Gausman allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts over six innings in the no-decision. Gausman was solid to start and didn’t give up a hit until a shaky fourth inning when he put five consecutive hitters on base with two singles, two walks and a hit by a pitch.
The Blue Jays have won nine of their past 10 games, improving to a 35-29 record and second place in the American League East, 4.5 games back of the division-leading New York Yankees.
Francis (2-7, 5.84 ERA) will aim to bounce back from his most recent outing on the mound last Tuesday during an 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. The right-hander gave up seven runs, six earned, on seven hits and issued two walks in only 1.2 innings of work. Francis conceded back-to-back homers to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper and has allowed 17 home runs this season, matching his total from all of last year, to lead the league.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Joe Ryan on the mound. Ryan holds a 6-2 record with a 2.91 ERA and has won four of his past five starts.
Minnesota sits second in the AL Central with a 34-30 record, seven games back of the Detroit Tigers.
After Sunday’s matchup, the Blue Jays continue their road trip, beginning a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
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