The game was decided in one devastating inning. Toronto scored seven runs in the eighth to erase a 4-3 deficit and defeat Minnesota 11-4 at Target Field.
Dylan Cease earned the victory with seven innings of work, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts. The right-hander carried a 3.05 ERA into the game and improved to 2-1 on the season.
The eighth inning began with Okamoto's single to center that scored Clement and tied the game 4-4. Sosa's infield single to second brought Guerrero Jr. home to give Toronto the lead. Straw walked to score Okamoto, then Schneider doubled to left to score both Sosa and Varsho. Valenzuela capped the outburst with a three-run homer to center that scored Straw and Schneider.
Luis Garcia took the loss without recording an out, allowing 4 runs on three hits and a walk in the eighth inning. His ERA stands at 7.11.
Toronto snapped a one-game losing streak to improve to 14-17. Minnesota fell to 14-18 despite Byron Buxton's first-inning homer and Trevor Larnach's RBI single in the fifth. Cease is five games away from his 200th career appearance.