Royals pitchers were buzzing Toronto batters like a military barber over the course of the game, plunking stars Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki in the process.
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LaTroy Hawkins finished in the ninth as the Blue Jays (55-52) closed to within percentage points of the Twins (54-51).
Sanchez was given three games, while Gibbons was handed a one-game ban. Price, Cespedes, and Joakim Soria were not locks to be back in Detroit next season, so they got some solid prospects to retool their farm system in the process.
All these moves position us for an exciting last two months to the season, with none of the races wrapped up yet and very few teams finding themselves well outside the playoff picture. First baseman Eric Hosmer walked and designated hitter Kendrys Morales doubled home one run.
“We know we haven’t been playing good baseball”, Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe said. Colorado’s Kyle Kendrick has surrendered 26. Blue Jays fans haven’t seen playoff baseball since 1993 and are desperate to support a victor. “They’re a tough group to navigate”.
The Blue Jays were critical of Wolf’s handling of the game.
“It makes my job easier when I don’t have to try to do too much“, Tulowitzki said.
Aaron Sanchez protected his teammates and paid for it with an ejection, a suspension and an earned run on his record: reliever Roberto Osuna gave up a home run to Ben Zobrist, and Alcides Escobar came around to score. The loss snapped Hughes’ string of six straight winning decisions.
Twins right-hander Phil Hughes (10-7) allowed five hits, including two home runs, two walks and three runs with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. The way he mixes speeds, the location and how he just turns into a different person when guys get on base. Josh Donaldson hit his 28th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning to put Toronto on top. It’s the eighth time this season he’s homered on a two-strike count. Meanwhile, Volquez appeared to be incensed by the reaction of Donaldson on the hits he took on Sunday.
According to ESPN, Gibbons will serve his suspension for Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Twins, but Sanchez has chosen to appeal his penalty and will be available for the game.
MERCHANDISEOver the weekend, the Jays sold a combined 1,400 jerseys and T-shirts emblazoned with the names of either Tulowitzki or Price.
A Rosario double with two out in the seventh chased Estrada, only the second hit he allowed. He was ideal as a Blue Jays platoon player, but the team did not want a platoon, so they dumped one of their best hitters.
Molitor showed he hasn’t lost his sense of humor despite Minnesota’s recent offensive struggles. If I had to bet on it now, I would bet on the Royals to repeat in the American League and the Cardinals to win the National League to give us an all-Missouri World Series. Blue Jays 3, Twins 1. Twins RHP Tyler Duffey, called up from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, will make his major league debut Wednesday when he faces Toronto RHP Drew Hutchison (9-2, 5.42 ERA).
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on.
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Louis Cardinals for the second straight start, striking out a career-high nine, and the Cincinnati Reds turned a big first inning off John Lackey into a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.
