Santana’s three-run homer lifts Twins over Jays

Carlos Santana's three-run homer in the seventh inning broke open a scoreless tie as the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday.

TORONTO – Carlos Santana’s three-run homer in the seventh inning broke open a scoreless tie as the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Sunday.

Max Kepler had a two-run double in the eighth as Minnesota (24-16) won the rubber match of the three-game series.

Bailey Ober (4-1) pitched one-hit ball over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out 10. Cole Sands, Kody Funderbunk and Jhoan Duran came on in relief for the Twins.

Pinch-hitter Danny Jansen’s sacrifice fly in the seventh was the only run Toronto (18-22) could score. It was the first game of the season played with the roof open at Rogers Centre.

Alek Manoah (0-1) allowed three runs — all unearned — over seven innings to lower his earned-run average from 13.50 to 4.91 in his best outing of the year. He allowed four hits and a walk, striking out six.

Relievers Erik Swanson and Nate Pearson came out of the Blue Jays’ bullpen.

It was Manoah’s second start for the Blue Jays after he began the year on the injured list with shoulder soreness. He made several starts for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons before getting called up to Toronto.

Manoah earned an 0-2 record with an 8.69 earned-run average over five starts in minor-league play, striking out 28 over 19 2/3 innings.