Revamped lineup paying quick dividends

MINNEAPOLIS — For the second consecutive day, the Blue Jays went with a revamped lineup that places a bulk of its heft near the top of the batting order.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who returned from a three-game suspension on Friday, said he was pleased with the early returns from Thursday, when Toronto unveiled a new-look lineup with Jose Bautista in the leadoff spot for the first time since 2010. Then the Blue Jays went out and hit four home runs, including a three-run shot by Bautista, in a 9-3 rout of the Twins.

Toronto snapped a five-game losing streak on Thursday, then won consecutive games for the first time since May 9-10 with Friday’s victory.

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“You win the game, you always think it looks good,” Gibbons said.

Josh Donaldson, Michael Saunders and Darwin Barney also homered in Friday’s win.

Gibbons said he and his coaching staff had been kicking around the idea of shuffling the lineup for several days. As Toronto’s losing streak mounted and the offence struggled in a three-game series sweep against the Rays earlier this week, Bautista came to his manager and offered to move to the top.

“One thing you …

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