The Carrera Show gives Blue Jays win over Athletics

TORONTO, Ont.  _  Troy Tulowitzki broke out with two home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays as they defeated the Oakland Athletics 9-3 on Saturday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

Josh Donaldson took revenge on his former team with a three-run home run in the second inning, giving him the American League lead with seven on the season. The reigning MVP went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in.

The win snaps Oakland’s (10-8) six-game winning streak and hands them their first road loss of 2016. Toronto’s nine run output also marks their highest total of the year, having scored seven runs on two prior occasions.

Ezequiel Carrera made an impact for Toronto (9-10) in every phase of the game, going 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. Carrera also stole his second base of the season and made two diving catches in left to prevent extra-base hits.

Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ (3-0) turned in his fourth quality start in as many outings, pitching seven innings and allowing three earned runs. The left-hander struck out just one batter, but limited the damage by forcing three critical double-plays.

Gavin Floyd entered the game in the eighth inning, pitching two perfect innings and striking out two batters.

Kevin Pillar doubled and singled for the Blue Jays, who out-hit the Athletics thirteen to seven.

Oakland starter Chris Bassitt (0-1) struggled through his five-inning outing, allowing six earned runs on seven hits. Former Blue Jays reliever Liam Hendriks worked two innings of relief behind him, allowing two runs.

Both dugouts were warned in the top of the seventh when Happ led off the inning by hitting Oakland’s Khris Davis with a pitch. Hendriks had hit Donaldson on the first pitch of an at-bat in the prior inning.

Left-fielder Michael Saunders was held out of action for the second straight game as he deals with a hamstring injury.

Toronto plans to recall Drew Hutchison from the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in time to start Sunday’s series finale, a decision made by manager John Gibbons to allow the rest of his rotation an added day of rest.