MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and the Toronto Blue Jays have enjoyed making Target Field look small over the years. A ground-ball specialist kept Toronto's high-powered offence from having another big performance in Minnesota on Saturday.

The Blue Jays left nine runners on base and hit into three double-plays in the first three innings against Twins' starter Kyle Gibson in Saturdays' 3-2 loss. Toronto's Kevin Pillar hit a solo homer to ease his recent struggles and all but one Toronto starter -- Encarnacion -- had a hit in the game, but the Blue Jays were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

"Whether it be from poor hitting or them making pitches at the right time, we had a lot of opportunities," Toronto catcher Russell Martin said. "Our offence needs to come through more consistently for us to win more games, especially the close games."

The Blue Jays entered play Saturday with the most runs scored in baseball, 38 more than second-place Kansas City. Yet, Toronto is 3-11 in one-run games this season.

"It's got to change or you're not going to do anything, that's for sure," manager John Gibbons said of the team's record in one-run games. "We're right there. My gut tells me that's going to change. Law of averages says that is going to change a little bit."

Aaron Sanchez gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings for the Blue Jays, but lefty reliever Aaron Loup (1-3) gave up an infield single to Aaron Hicks, who scored on Brian Dozier's RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh to break the tie.

Sanchez lasted at least six innings for the third straight outing, the first time in his short MLB career he's done so. He struck out five and walked three.

"He just keeps getting better and better every time he goes out there," Gibbons said.

Pillar -- who entered with a .145 average and just two extra-base hits in his last 21 games -- hit his first home run since the first week of the season. Toronto's Josh Donaldson's streak of four straight games with a home run was stopped.

The Twins bullpen allowed only one single in 11 batters while striking out four. Ryan Pressly (2-1) picked up the victory with a scoreless seventh. Blaine Boyer pitched a perfect ninth for his first save, giving major league leader Glen Perkins a break after the All-Star closer gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Chris Colabello the night before.