Justin Turner went 3-for-4, driving in three runs as the Blue Jays blanked the Rockies 5-0

Justin Turner was signed by the Blue Jays in the offseason to add a reliable bat and experience to the Toronto clubhouse. He has delivered both so far, but he believes the best is yet to come.

Turner went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs as the Blue Jays shut out the Colorado Rockies 5-0 on Sunday. Toronto has scored 14 runs in the three-game series, and Turner said that shows a lot of promise.

“Scratching the surface of the offense,” Turner said. “I think there's a lot more in the tank and when we're hitting on all cylinders, it's going to be a fun offense to be a part of.”

Turner signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Blue Jays on January 30, replacing Brandon Belt as the team's designated hitter.

That investment paid off for Toronto, as Turner hit .386 with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.095 and eight RBI. He leads the Blue Jays in all three statistical categories, with left fielder Davis Schneider tied for the lead in RBIs.

Turner was a two-time All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was co-winner of the NLCS MVP award in 2017 and won the 2020 World Series with the Dodgers.

After the win, Toronto manager John Schneider said the 39-year-old slugger was like an extra hitting coach for some of the younger players in the clubhouse.

“I speak from experience and I have a lot of history against a lot of guys in this league,” Turner said. “So game planning and talking about approaches and different thoughts that maybe some guys haven't heard before.”

Junior Vladimir Guerrero added an RBI single in the third inning as Toronto (8-8) snapped a back-to-back. Isiah Keener-Falefa drove in another run with his home run in the eighth.

Jose Berrios (3-0) allowed seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Genesis Cabrera and Nate Pearson pitched two scoreless innings of relief to preserve the win for Berrios.

Berrios has a 1.05 earned run average over 25 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts so far this season. It's one of the 29-year-old right-hander's strongest starts in his eight MLB seasons.

“We're human, we're not going to be 100 percent every day, but I've still been able to stay healthy,” Berrios said. “I made adjustments to compete there and help our team win.”

Kyle Freeland (0-3) gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings as Colorado (4-12) lost the rubber game of a three-game set at Rogers Center. Victor Wodnik, Jalen Backes and Anthony Molina all came out of the Rockies' bullpen, with the latter giving up a run.

Turner opened the scoring in the first when he singled to shallow right field to score George Springer at second. The inning ended when Turner attempted to steal second in the next at-bat and was struck out by Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings.

Guerrero scored Kevin Kiermaier from third base in the third to give the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead. Kiermaier reached base on a single, advanced to second on Freeland's throwing error, then advanced to third on Springer's sacrifice fly.

Turner struck again two batters later with a double that scored Guerrero. He cashed in Springer again in the fifth inning, his third hit of the day to shallow center field.

Toronto put together another rally in the eighth inning when Ernie Clement, Alejandro Kirk and Kiner-Falefa hit three consecutive singles. Keener-Falefa's two-out hit brought Clement home for a 5-0 lead.

“You can't just show up and do it,” Turner said. – We have a lot of guys who work and grind every day.

“When that pendulum starts to swing the other way, it's going to be a fun offense.”

On Deck – Chris Bassitt (1-2) hosts the New York Yankees in the opener of a three-game series in Toronto on Monday.

Carlos Rodon (1-0) takes the mound for New York.