Kazuma Okamoto goes deep twice to lead Blue Jays over Twins

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The home run was a big part of the Blue Jays’ success last season, particularly when it came to the team’s post-season run.

But so far this season, the damage the Jays have done with the long ball has been limited.

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Friday night in Minnesota, the long ball was once again the difference in the Blue Jays’ 7-3 win over the host Twins.

Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays’ prized non-pitcher signing during the off-season, recorded his first multi-homer game since coming over to North America. Both home runs came off Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson, a former Blue Jays farmhand.

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Okamoto has a team-high seven home runs, and is looking more and more comfortable with each passing day.

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The Jays hitting coaches have worked closely with the Japanese slugger, getting him a little closer to the plate, and the moves have paid immediate dividends for the coachable young man.

All one had to see last night was the smile on the normally reserved slugger’s face as he made his way through the dugout following each of his homers to see just how quickly he has become comfortable in a completely new environment.

CORBIN DELIVERING WHEN CALLED ON

As the Blue Jays attempt to stay afloat while they await the return of a slew of regulars to both the everyday lineup and the starting rotation, Patrick Corbin is firmly establishing himself as one of those guys most responsible for keeping this rash of injuries from determining their season.

Corbin pitched into the sixth inning on Friday, allowing just two runs, and picking up his first win as a Blue Jay.

When the season began, Corbin was home in Florida, staying ready in case a team came calling this year.

Corbin made his fifth start Friday for the Jays, his second of the year against the Twins, but this time around Corbin was in a much better groove than the guy who arrived one day and was on the mound the next that first time against Minnesota.

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At 36 years of age and in his 14th season in the major leagues, Corbin is no longer a guy the Jays are going to expect to provide a steady six innings every time he takes the mound, but he has given the Jays a chance every time he has taken the mound.

In fact, the Jays have won four of his five starts as the crafty veteran, even as he was finding his way in those first couple of starts, has managed to do enough to keep his team in the game.

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QUICK HITS

It was an interesting, and ultimately correct, decision by the Jays to stay with Yohendrick Pinango in left field over Davis Schneider in this one. Schneider has some pretty impressive numbers against Woods Richardson, including a two-homer game last season. But the Jays braintrust liked what they were seeing from Pinango at the plate the past couple of days and opted to stay with him for a third day. All the young Venezuelan did was have an impact with each of his four at-bats. He had three singles and drove in a pair of runs for a rather solid night at the plate … Nice to see Louis Varland get some love in his home town. It’s no secret the Jays’ current closer was shocked by last season’s trade away from the Twins, and it took him a little while to adjust to life as a Blue Jay, but he clearly has not been forgotten. Varland received a nice welcome home from his fellow Minnesotans and then continued to do what he has been doing all year, mowing down the Twins in the ninth to preserve the 7-3 win.

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NEXT UP

The Jays send Dylan Cease (1-1, 2.37 ERA) to the mound on Saturday in a 2:10 p.m. start. He will be opposed by young Minnesota left-hander Connor Prielipp (1-0, 4.00 ERA), who will be making just his second big league start.

LOOKING AHEAD

There was some thought that the Jays might have right-hander Jose Berrios back from the injured list to make Sunday’s start, but the team has decided one more minor-league rehab start would serve the veteran well. It means Trey Yesavage will pitch on the normal four days rest Sunday, with Eric Lauer expected to get another start Monday in St. Petersburg against the Tampa Bay Rays. There is always the chance though that the Jays will go with an opener before turning the ball over to Lauer for the bulk of the game, though that has yet to be decided.

mganter@postmedia.com

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