An eight-run eighth inning lifts the Blue Jays past the Twins 11-4

Kazuma Okamoto and Brandon Valenzuela powered the Toronto Blue Jays to an 11-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, with Okamoto hitting his third home run in two days and Valenzuela contributing a homer during an explosive eight-run eighth inning. Despite Byron Buxton’s continued home run streak for the Twins, their bullpen struggled, allowing eight runs before recording an out in the eighth. Toronto’s George Springer left the game with a foot injury, though X-rays showed no new fracture. The Blue Jays have now won six of their last eight games, while the Twins’ relievers have given up 20 runs in their past six games. Toronto’s Dylan Cease pitched seven innings, allowing four runs and striking out seven. The series concludes with Trey Yesavage starting for Toronto and Joe Ryan for Minnesota. QUESTION: How might the performance of a team’s bullpen impact their overall success in a baseball season?