LDN - Other News

Donaldson's two homers power Jays past Sox

[May 28, 2016] By Perry Lefko, The Sports Xchange

TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson brought down the American-League East Division Boston Red Sox with his offense and defense in the Toronto Blue Jays' 7-5 win Friday night at SkyDome.

Donaldson, last year's American League Most Valuable Player, hit a pivotal two-run homer in the eighth inning, which stood up as the winning runs for the Jays, who are starting to make a move, winning three straight. The Jays evened their record at 25-25 and moved to within five games of the Red Sox, who dropped to 29-19.

Donaldson also had a double, single and cashed in five runs overall. He now has 13 home runs on the season and 42 runs batted in, which temporarily moved him into first in the AL.

He also made some solid plays on defense, including starting a double play in the fourth with Boston loading the bases and the scored tied 2-2. It was just that kind of night for Donaldson.

"It feels nice, I've been putting in a lot of work and have that feeling right when I'm about to start producing," he said. "Tonight was just kind of a result of the process that's been going on. I know how my body's moving when it's right and, honestly, the entire year I haven't felt right. I've been kind of grinding, trying to get there and maybe at some points trying to do too much. A couple days ago I was starting to feel (good) and getting excited about it. It's one of those things where you've got to keep trusting the process going on."

He also took pride in the play that started off the double play.

"The guy hit the ball pretty hard at me, and to make a pretty good throw to (second baseman Devon Travis), that was obviously a momentum change for us," he said.

Jays' manager John Gibbons said he thinks Donaldson is having a "solid year" because even though his batting average may be down at .257, he's still contributing in other ways.

"He was in a little bit of rut for him, especially coming off the year he had last year, but a big hit here and there gets him going," Gibbons said. "We saw that a few times last year. He's a special player. He can beat you so many ways -- with the bat, the glove and things like that."

Blue Jays' starter Aaron Sanchez left the game after 6 2/3 innings with Toronto leading 5-4. He gave up a single in the seventh inning to Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez, who knocked in two runs. Shortly after the two Red Sox runners crossed home plate, a spectator ran on to the playing field dressed only in underwear and made it all the way from the third base line to right field before he was corralled.

Sanchez settled down and got an out before he was replaced by reliever Joe Biagini, who got right fielder Moots Betts to line out to center to end the inning. Biagini picked up the win to go 2-1 on the season. Roberto Osuna picked up his 11th save of the season, pitching the final inning.

"I think I threw just enough curveballs and just enough changeups to be effective," Sanchez said. "We've put a few wins together. Obviously our last road trip (in New York) was huge for us. You can see confidence in these guys when they get to the yard. That's a huge plus. It's just about coming to the yard and taking it day-by-day at this point."

[to top of second column]

Red Sox manager John Farrell said the game came down to Boston failing to contain Donaldson.

"He's such a good player, he does it in critical moments," Farrell said. "He had good success against (starter Joe Kelly) coming into this one and that proved to be the case once again."

Kelly came into the game with a 2-0 record in only four starts, missing a month prior to his last start with a shoulder injury. But the Jays have done well against him. He gave up nine hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings and also issued three walks. The only bright spot was recording eight strikeouts. In two games against Toronto this year, he has given up 12 runs in 7 2/3 innings.

"I try to make the same pitches better," he said. "I missed with the fastball. If I hit my spot there with those fastballs, I could get a ground ball or a popup. Fall behind a guy like that who's coming out the gate swinging, you don't have much room to miss a pitch...Two missed locations on the fastball hurt me a little bit, plus falling behind and you can't do that against these guys."

Koji Uehara, the fourth pitcher Boston employed in the game and the one who served up Donaldson's two-run homer, took the loss. His record is 2-2.

Donaldson opened the scoring in the first inning, hitting a home run off Kelly. The Red Sox tied the score in the second when Travis Shaw scored an unearned run on a groundout by Jackie Bradley Jr. Shaw reached second on a two-base error when a wild throw by Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki pulled first baseman Justin Smoak off the bag. Tulowitzki was charged with an error.

Donaldson put the Jays up 2-1 when he doubled in the third to drive in right fielder Ezequiel Carrera, who led off with a single. The Red Sox got three consecutive hits off Sanchez in the fourth to tie the score 2-2, but were stymied by Donaldson's great play.

NOTES: Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista sat out the game after Major League Baseball upheld his one-game suspension for his involvement in the brawl with the Texas Rangers on May 15. Ezequiel Carrera took his place in the outfield and leading off in the batting order. ... Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore right quadriceps. ...Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis made his third consecutive start since returning to the lineup after a left shoulder injury sidelined him last July 28 and required surgery. ... Red Sox manager John Ferrell indicated before the game that struggling RHP Clay Buchholz will be demoted to long-term relief and that LHP Eduardo Rodriguez will be activated to start on Tuesday against Baltimore. Rodriguez has been rehabbing with Pawtucket in Triple-A after injuring a knee in training camp. ... Red Sox LHP David Price is scheduled to play in the series finale on Sunday, the first time he will play against his former team in Toronto since he left in the offseason as a free agent to sign with Boston.

-----------------------------------------------

Back to top