SPORTS

Bautista hits third homer as Blue Jays beat Twins 4-3

Jeff Odom The Associated Press
Published Saturday, March 8, 2014 5:56PM EST

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista watches his solo home run off Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Glen Perkins during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game in Dunedin, Fla., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (AP / Kathy Willens)

Text:

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Jose Bautista hit his third home run of the spring for the Toronto Blue Jays in a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Minnesota Twins, who got three scoreless innings from newcomer Phil Hughes.

Hughes signed a $24 million, three-year contract in the off-season after spending his first seven seasons with the New York Yankees. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two.

The right-hander missed most of spring training with a back injury last year and struggled mightily in the regular season, going 4-14 with a 5.19 ERA with the Yankees.

Adam Lind was 2 for 2 with two doubles for the Blue Jays. Melky Cabrera added an RBI single and Edwin Encarnacion scored a run.

Bautista connected in the fourth off Twins closer Glen Perkins.

Byron Buxton, rated the No. 1 prospect in baseball, hit a two-run homer off Toronto starter Drew Hutchison in the third.

Hutchison struck out five, including three straight in the second, and walked one in three innings.