Blue Jays overpower Twins with Josh Donaldson’s hat trick

A home run hat trick from Josh Donaldson helped the Toronto Blue Jays mount their second comeback win in as many games on Sunday afternoon, topping the Minnesota Twins 9-5 in the series finale.

Donaldson’s three home runs gave him 33 on the season as the defending American League MVP, and current candidate, went 3-for-4 with four RBI. After sky-scraping blasts in the third and seventh innings, Donaldson earned the curtain call with a screamer to centre-field in the eighth.

This feat came almost one full year after Edwin Encarnacion‘s hat trick on August 29th of 2015. Troy Tulowitzki also got in on the action, hitting his 22nd home run of the season and going 2-for-4.

Jose Bautista also continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-5 out of the leadoff spot with two runs scored. Bautista, Devon Travis, Melvin Upton Jr., and Kevin Pillar all doubled.

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The Blue Jays still faced an uphill climb midway through the game, though, down 5-2 entering the bottom of the sixth.

Starter R.A. Dickey gave the Blue Jays six innings allowing five runs, only three of which were earned. Brett Cecil took over and fanned the one left-hander he was tasked with before Scott Feldman closed out the seventh with a big double-play.

Jason Grilli handled the eighth inning, and as the Blue Jays are growing very accustomed to, the veteran right-hander fanned two batters and worked a clean frame. Roberto Osuna handled the ninth inning, allowing one earned run on three hits.

Toronto hits the road tomorrow to begin some key divisional play beginning with a three-game set against the Baltimore Orioles. 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.

Dioner Navarro is also expected to join the Blue Jays in time for their series against the Orioles. A corresponding roster move is expected prior to first pitch as the Blue Jays will need to bridge the gap to the September 1st roster expansions.