Toronto slugger Josh Donaldson smacked three home runs including a go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh inning as the Blue Jays rallied past the Minnesota Twins yesterday in Canada, 9-6. Fans threw hats on the field after Donaldson’s third homer in the eighth inning for the Jays, who completed the three-game sweep.
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It was the 10th loss in a row for the Twins (49-81) while the Blue Jays (74-56), who overcame a 5-1 disadvantage Sunday, remain at the top of the American League East.
Light (0-1) took the loss while Scott Feldman (7-4) pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief for the win. He reached 11 career home runs faster than anyone in major league history – 23 games, including two hitless games previous year.
Francisco Liriano gave up four runs and two hits in five innings to win for the first time in four starts since Toronto got him a trade with Pittsburgh on August 1. He struck out five.
Upton’s hit bounced past Twins right-fielder Max Kepler, bringing Blue Jays fans to their feet as Pillar scored.
Twins outfielders Robbie Grossman and Danny Santana collided while chasing a high fly by leadoff batter Bautista in the first. After fouling off a couple of Pressly offerings on a 3-2 count, Encarnacion hit a single to left to score Bautista, moving Donaldson to third. Molitor said Santana would be placed on the disabled list with a sprained left left shoulder.
Blackmon connected in the third off starter A.J. Cole, then hit a two-run drive off Yusmeiro Petit (3-4).
Donaldson made up for his ninth error of the season nearly immediately, smoking a Gibson offering into the second deck in left in the bottom half. Mauer returned to the Twins lineup after missing three games with sore quadriceps.
The Blue Jays are 6-0 in Estrada’s last six starts with four days’ rest, and 6-1 in Estrada’s last seven road starts. The three-run inning cut Minnesota’s lead down and set up Upton’s heroics. Devon Travis walked, Josh Thole grounded out to first and Jose Bautista walked to load the bases.
In the third, Rosario came around to score on a fielder’s choice RBI by Max Kepler. Encarnacion followed with an RBI single off the glove of Plouffe at third. A four run 5th, capped off by a two run single by Miguel Sano, gave Kyle Gibson a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
Donaldson also becomes the 18th player this season to record a three-homer game. Rosario then scored on a double to right by Eduardo Escobar, all with none out. It was his fourth multi-homer game of the season and the 10th of his career.
Kevin Pillar got on base in the inning with a double down the third-base line before Upton came to the plate with the Blue Jays trailing 7-6.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki also hit a home run for Toronto, a solo job in the sixth.
Roberto Osuna pitched a flawless ninth with two strikeouts to earn his 29th save of the season.
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RHP R.A. Dickey will start the finale of the three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Rogers Centre.
