The All-Star might even get a chance to reach over the wall at Yankee Stadium to grab a long drive by Gary Sanchez – the NY newcomer has hit 11 home runs in just 21 games this season.
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Excelsior! Hats! Hats for the hat trick!
And the rapture would not let up from the delirious fans, who remained on their feet chanting “MVP, MVP” until Donaldson emerged from the dugout and waved to the crowd in appreciation.
Gibson proceeded to give up two runs in the 6th.
It was a roller-coaster type day for Donaldson.
Stroman’s season ERA climbed to 4.58 Saturday with five earned runs allowed, but he pitched better than his line would suggest since numerous nine hits he allowed were just out of the reach of Blue Jays infielders. Joe Mauer walked to fill the bases. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (9-5, 4.47) Santana suffered the hard-luck loss in his last outing on Sunday, allowing two runs and four hits while striking out a season-high 10 in seven innings of a 2-1 setback at Kansas City. Light earned the loss. Toronto right fielder Jose Bautista went 3-for-5, including a double, in the game. The three-run inning cut Minnesota’s lead down and set up Upton’s heroics. Left fielder Robbie Grossman appeared to have caught the ball but it was jarred loose when he collided with center fielder Danny Santana. “Thank God that the offense hit the ball well today”. (Encarnacion) was on deck after I hit the third one and he had a huge smile on his face.
In the final few weeks of a forgettable season, Twins manager Paul Molitor doesn’t want his players hanging their heads.
Twins right fielder Max Kepler, who made the key diving error that allowed Melvin Upton Jr.to score the winning run on Saturday, hit into a 1-4-6 double play in the third inning to score Eddie Rosario from third, tying the game 1-1.
Donaldson’s first homer of the game in the bottom of the third gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.
Marco Estrada (7-6, 3.47) starts for the Blue Jays, and he also has run into trouble lately. Encarnacion followed with an RBI single off the glove of Plouffe at third. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 5.11) is expected to start for Boston for the first time since leaving his August 16 start at Baltimore after four hitless innings with tightness in his left hamstring.
Barney homered off Andrew Albers to begin a four-run sixth for the Blue Jays. That prompted Molitor to pull Gibson from the game for Light, who got Jays catcher Thole to hit into a double play to end the inning.
Donaldson hit his 33rd homer of the season and the third of the game with two out in the eighth against Alex Wimmers.
The late rally allowed the Blue Jays to overcome a pair of disappointing pitching performances.
Jason Grilli (5-3) and Roberto Osuna each worked a scoreless inning of relief, with Grilli earning the win and Osuna getting the save.
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The Jays now head out on a crucial 10-day, nine-game road trip starting on Monday, with three games in Baltimore, three in Tampa Bay and three in NY, with a day off on Thursday.
