Toronto Blue Jays’ Marcus Semien ducks away from an inside pitch in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Canadian Olympian Penny Oleksiak throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Canadian Olympian Penny Oleksiak throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers misses catching a pop-up fly ball off the bat of Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Trevor Richards pitches in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Steven Matz pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Minnesota Twins’ Josh Donaldson watches his two-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Minnesota Twins’ Brent Rooker (50) catches a fly ball off the bat of Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer over a ducking Nick Gordon in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
TORONTO (AP) — Marcus Semien became the fifth second baseman to hit 40 home runs in a season, and the Toronto Blue Jays moved back into a playoff position by beating the Minnesota Twins 6-2 Saturday.
Teoscar Hernández hit a three-run homer, and Bo Bichette had three hits and two RBIs as the Blue Jays rebounded from a 7-3 loss and improved to a big league-best 14-3 in September.
Toronto (83-65) moved a half-game ahead of the New York Yankees (83-66) for the second AL wild-card berth, one game behind Boston (85-65). The Blue Jays haven’t lost back-to-back games since defeats to the White Sox on Aug. 26 and Detroit the following day.
“It’s the confidence we have right now,” Hernández said. “We trust in each other.”
Steven Matz (13-7) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“Today I had the curveball going, so I just used it a lot,” Matz said. “They weren’t doing any damage on it.”
Matz is 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA in his past seven starts.
“He’s been one of our best starters,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “That’s saying a lot, because the other guys are doing really well, too.”
Toronto had lost its eight previous home games against the Twins since Aug. 26, 2017.
