Donaldson Reaches 100 RBI Mark As Jays Level Angels
ANAHEIM (AP) — Josh Donaldson went 4 for 5 with a three-run homer, driving in six runs and propelling the Toronto Blue Jays to their 18th victory in 22 games, 15-3 over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.
Jose Bautista had a two-run triple during a seven-run fourth inning by the streaking Blue Jays. They followed up their 9-2 win at the Big A on Friday with the highest-scoring performance in three years by the majors' most productive offense.
Amid "M-V-P!" chants from the visitors' fans in Mike Trout's home stadium, Donaldson drove in six runs in a three-inning span, giving him 100 RBIs for the first time in his career.
He sent his 34th homer deep into the bullpens beyond left field in the third inning before delivering a two-run single in the fourth and an RBI double in the fifth.
Bautista had three hits, Edwin Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 18 games while driving in three runs, and Chris Colabello hit a late two-run homer as the Jays pounded out a season-high 20 hits in their highest-scoring game since July 22, 2012.
The Yankees' win over Cleveland kept them a half-game ahead of Toronto for the AL East lead, but every victory puts the Blue Jays ever closer to a secure playoff spot — and the way they're hitting since their bold trade-deadline moves, October play seems inevitable.
Kaleb Cowart homered for his first major league hit for the Angels (63-60), who have lost nine of 13. They also fell into third place in the AL West and the wild-card standings behind Texas.
C.J. Cron homered and David Murphy had an RBI double in Los Angeles' third straight embarrassing defeat by a combined 32-7.
Andrew Heaney (5-2) had the worst start of a solid rookie season for the Angels, yielding eight runs and seven hits.
Heaney hadn't allowed more than two runs in an inning this season until Donaldson's two-out shot in the third. He left his shortest start of the season after walking three Jays in the fourth.
Marco Estrada (11-7) got even more run support than David Price received Friday night, cruising to his fourth win in five starts while pitching five-hit ball into the sixth inning.
Cowart was 0 for 14 to start his career before homering in the fifth inning. Two batters earlier, Cron hit his 10th homer.
Trout went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, dropping the reigning AL MVP's August average to .176.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis will join the team in Texas next week to have his injured shoulder examined.
Angels: 2B Johnny Giavotella stayed home due to an illness for the second straight night.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: R.A. Dickey (7-10, 4.14 ERA) takes the mound.
Angels: Garrett Richards (12-9, 3.50 ERA) attempts to avoid the sweep.
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