SPORTS

Rogers pitches well into the 8th, Reyes' late double leads Jays over Twins

The Associated Press Published Sunday, September 8, 2013 4:57PM EDT Last Updated Sunday, September 8, 2013 4:58PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Esmil Rogers delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, in Minneapolis on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP / Paul Battaglia)

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Esmil Rogers pitched well into the eighth inning and Jose Reyes' late double broke a scoreless tie that led the Toronto Blue Jays past the Minnesota Twins 2-0 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Rogers (5-7) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out four over 7 2-3 innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since June 13 and 18. Rogers -- who hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts -- outdueled Twins rookie Andrew Albers, who took a no-decision despite a brilliant outing. Albers scattered four hits over seven innings with no walks and a season-high five strikeouts.

But the Blue Jays quickly got to Twins reliever Jared Burton (2-9), who came out to start the eighth for Albers.

Ryan Goins led off with a single and came around to score on Reyes' double two batters later. Reyes then stole third and scored when Brian Dozier couldn't grab Rajai Davis' pop-fly in shallow left to make it 2-0.

Brett Cecil and Sergio Santos combined to close out the eighth and Casey Jannsen pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 31 chances.

Toronto has won 10 of its last 13 games since a season-high seven-game losing streak from Aug. 18-24.

The Twins had a chance to take the lead after Pedro Florimon's lead-off double in the sixth. Alex Presley followed with a single, but the speedy Florimon was held up at third and then thrown out at home on Chris Herrmann's ensuing grounder. Presley advanced to third on Brian Dozier's long fly, but Oswaldo Arcia grounded out to short and end the threat, drawing loud boos from the home crowd.

Notes: Blue Jays INF Edwin Encarnacion sat out with a sore left wrist. . Minnesota's bullpen entered the game having allowed 11 runs in 14 1-3 innings against the Blue Jays, including six runs in three innings in Saturday night's loss. "It's really hard for me to say anything bad about those guys in the bullpen, they've been our saviours," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. . Asked if he regularly checks in on injured All-Star catcher Joe Mauer (concussion), Gardenhire quipped: "I said Hi,' at breakfast. Do I need to say more than that? I'm not going to follow him around, you guys do that." Gardenhire said Mauer hit in the batting cages Sunday and followed a regular cardio routine. There is still no timetable for his return. . The Blue Jays have Monday off before beginning a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels at home on Tuesday. RHP Jerome Williams (6-10) is scheduled to start that game against the Angels' Mark Buehrle (11-7). The Twins will host the Angels on Monday in a makeup game from April 17; Pedro Hernandez (3-1) will start for Minnesota against Jered Weaver (9-8).