MINNEAPOLIS -- Eduardo Nunez homered to cap a five-run rally in the eighth inning as the Minnesota Twins suddenly broke loose to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 Saturday.

The Twins had been shut out on just one hit -- a double by Nunez -- by J.A. Happ and trailed 2-0 going into the eighth. They came back to win for only the fourth time in 21 games.

Danny Santana tied it with a two-run double on Happ's last pitch. Nunez hit a three-run homer off Gavin Floyd.

Fernando Abad (1-0) threw two pitches and picked up the win. He entered the game with one out in the eighth and got Justin Smoak to hit into a double play.

Toronto slugger Jose Bautista homered for the 13th time in 20 games at Target Field. Michael Saunders homered in the ninth off Kevin Jepsen, who got his third save.

Robbie Grossman led off the Twins eighth with a single and Darrin Mastrioanni walked. After Kurt Suzuki popped up a bunt, Santana doubled.

Floyd hit Brian Dozier with his first pitch and Nunez hit his third home run.

Pat Dean pitched six strong innings for the Twins in his first major league start. The lefty gave up two runs on three hits and three walks and struck out five.

Bautista hit his ninth homer, a two-run drive in the third inning. After Darwin Barney hit a one-out double, Dean hung a slider that Bautista sent into the second deck in left field.

Nunez led off the fourth with a double. Miguel Sano followed with a fly ball to medium-deep centre field, and Kevin Pillar's one-hop throw nailed Nunez trying to advance to third.

QUICK HOOK

Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson had an abbreviated appearance. He was ejected by home plate Toby Basner in the top of the first. Donaldson, batting second, was retired on an infield grounder. He said something as he passed home plate on his way back to the dugout and Basner immediately tossed him.

DAY OF REST

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer got a routine day off with the left-handed Happ starting for Toronto. Mauer had played in all 41 of the Twins' games this season, starting 39 and coming off the bench twice.

"We've been on a swing of right-handed pitchers here for 10 days or so," manager Paul Molitor said. "(Saturday is) a day where, day game after a night game, lefty going, we kind of earmarked that for him."

Mauer was hitting .323 on May 4, but has gone 7 for 48 since, dropping his batting average to .265.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Blue Jays: LHP Aaron Loup (forearm flexor strain) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday. He has not pitched in a major league game yet this season.

Twins: RHP Alex Meyer (shoulder) has not pitched since being optioned to Triple-A Rochester on May 4, but on Sunday he's expected to throw his second bullpen session in three days. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said that Meyer is being prepped for a return to the starting rotation.

UP NEXT

The teams wrap up their four-game series on Sunday, with the Twins sending RHP Phil Hughes (1-6, 5.70) to the mound against Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman (4-1, 4.23).