Only Matt Wallner had much success against the 41-year-old righthander, twice connecting for long home runs and driving in a season-high three runs. Wallner ambushed a first-pitch slider in the fourth inning, driving it 419 feet and into the seats in right-center. It was Wallner’s 18th homer of the season — and his 13th coming with no teammates on base.
Two innings later, with Trevor Larnach on second base, Wallner again took Scherzer’s first pitch deep, this time blasting a belt-high fastball 432 feet onto the second level down the right-field line for No. 19.
The rest of the Twins lineup, though, went a combined 2-for-20 against Scherzer, both of them singles, as he improved to 5-2 for the Jays, who improved to 43-21 at Rogers Centre.
Ryan might someday be in Scherzer’s class as a pitcher, but he has had a rough past week. After allowing five runs in four innings last Tuesday against the Athletics, Ryan surrendered four runs in the first inning and another in the second, putting the slumping Twins down early. Five of the first seven Blue Jays to bat reached base, with All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk smacking a two-run homer.
Twins pitcher Joe Ryan, right, reacts as Toronto's Bo Bichette rounds the bases on teammate Alejandro Kirk's two-run home run in the first inning Monday night. (Frank Gunn/The Associated Press)
Andrés Giménez led off the second with a home run of his own, his first since July 1. Giménez then sparked a two-out rally in the fourth inning, singling and stealing second base, where he could score on George Springer’s single.
Ryan gave up six runs over five innings — 11 total runs in back-to-back starts ties his career worst, something that hadn’t happened since 2023 — but Wallner’s second home run closed the gap to 6-4.
