Toronto also picked up the series sweep. 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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Donaldson’s hat-trick marked the 21st time in Jays history a player hit three dingers.
Toronto starter Marcus Stroman allowed nine hits, one walk and five runs in six innings.
It was a roller-coaster type day for Donaldson.
RAYS 10, ASTROS 4: Chris Archer struck out 10 in seven innings, Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer and Tampa Bay won at Houston. He has now reached base in 23 of his last 24 starts and ranks second in the American League with 85 walks (Mike Trout had 90 prior to Sunday’s games).
The Blue Jays celebrated Canada Baseball Day by wearing red caps and jerseys. Trevor Plouffe homered for the Twins in each of the first two contests of the series and drove in two runs for the third time in four games, but is 2-for-11 in his career versus Sunday starter R.A. Dickey. Light earned the loss.
Dodgers 1, Cubs 0: Brock Stewart and four relievers combined on a four-hitter for Los Angeles, which remained two games ahead of the victorious Giants.
The Jays went all fundamental in taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. As Pillar scored the tying run, the speedy Upton raced around to third and when Kepler slipped and kicked the ball away from Eddie Rosario, Upton scored.
Minnesota lost 8-7 Saturday, it’s ninth consecutive defeat, when Toronto’s Melvin Upton Jr. tripled past a diving right-fielder Max Kepler, then came around to score the go-ahead run when Kepler misplayed the ball.
Encarnacion ripped a two-run homer off Ervin Santana over the left-centre field wall in the sixth inning.
The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-6, the Texas Rangers routed the Cleveland Indians 7-0, Scott Schebler homered twice in the Cincinnati Reds’ 13-0 obliteration of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox enjoyed a 9-3 success against the Seattle Mariners.
Plouffe got two runs back for the Twins the following inning, putting the ball just over the right-field fence to drive in Max Kepler for a 7-3 lead. Kevin Pillar slashed a one-out double to left, bringing Upton to the plate.
The Toronto centre fielder was moved over to third on a Melvin Upton Jr. grounder to short, and then scored when Devon Travis stroked a single over the second baseman in right.
“It doesn’t get any better than that”, manager John Gibbons said. Donaldson led the league with 122 runs and 123 RBIs last season. Marco Estrada (7-6, 3.47 ERA) is scheduled to face Wade Miley (8-10, 5.51 ERA) in the series opener at 7:05 p.m. ET.
“We scored over 20 runs in three games and couldn’t find a way to win one”, manager Paul Molitor said.
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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.
