Okamoto's 2 HRs Lead Blue Jays Past Twins 7-3

MINNEAPOLIS — Kazuma Okamoto hit two home runs and drove in three runs to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night at Target Field, evening the three-game series at one win apiece.

The Blue Jays jumped ahead in the second inning after Daulton Varsho and Lenyn Sosa led off with back-to-back singles. The runners advanced on a wild pitch by Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson, and Yohendrick Pinango followed with a fielder's choice grounder. First baseman Josh Bell's errant throw to home allowed both runners to score for a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota tied the game in the third when Brooks Lee singled and Byron Buxton followed with a two-run homer to left field, his fourth long ball in five games and ninth since April 13, tying him for the major-league lead.

Toronto responded immediately in the fourth. Okamoto led off with a solo homer to left, breaking the tie. Sosa added a one-out double and scored on Pinango's single to center, pushing the lead to 4-2.

Okamoto struck again in the fifth with a two-run shot to left off Woods Richardson, extending the advantage to 6-2. The blast marked the 29-year-old's first multihomer game in North America....