Smoak, Martin lead Blue Jays past Twins

“I think it’s one of those things as a baseball player you kind of want to happen eventually one day”.

Gibbons said Loup’s DFA was a technicality and that he had to clear optional waivers before he could be assigned to a team and the Blue Jays meant to kee him.

“The offense came to life and it was a big night”, manager John Gibbons said. “He’s capable of that, we have a few guys who are capable of doing something like that, it’s a rare feat”.

Donaldson had hit one home run in the previous 16 games and dealt with a thumb injury when he homered on Thursday.

Donaldson, whose recent play has put him back in the discussion for MVP, got busy again in the seventh with a two-run moon shot to centre, part of a four-run uprising that staggered the Twins for good. After his third dinger in the eighth, Donaldson was showered with hats, caps and various other head apparel.

“I’ve never had a curtain call before so that was nice”, Donaldson said.

Bautista led off with bottom of the seventh with a single against Light, his third hit of the game, and Donaldson hit his second homer of the game to center to give Toronto the lead. Gibson doesn’t have fond memories of his last encounter with Toronto, yielding eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.Dickey has answered a disastrous three-game losing skid by posting a 2-1 mark with a 3.13 ERA in his last four outings. “He’s trying to do something to help us win”. “It was a team effort all around and Josh had a special day today, it was neat to sit back and watch him to do his thing”. Minnesota has been tagged for at least eight runs in four straight games.

Melvin Upton Jr. hit a looper to right field, and Max Kepler turned it into a little league home run that capped off a memorable Blue Jays comeback.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki also hit a home run for Toronto, a solo job in the sixth.

The Blue Jays trailed 7-6 in the eighth when Kevin Pillar doubled with one out off Ryan Pressly (6-6).

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (5-8, 5.09) is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.

Bautista led off the first with a double as Twins’ outfielders Robbie Grossman and Danny Santana collided, allowing it to drop in.

Santana finished the inning but was replaced by Eddie Rosario in the second. Eduardo Escobar’s double to right field plated Eddie Rosario and advanced Sano to third.

Donaldson made up for his ninth error of the season nearly immediately, smoking a Gibson offering into the second deck in left in the bottom half.

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. Trevor Plouffe hit an RBI single and took second on a passed ball.

Toronto leads the season series 7-6, but Baltimore has won both series at Camden Yards.

Pillar led off with a single and was forced at second by Upton.

Jason Grilli (5-3) worked one inning for the win and Roberto Osuna finished for his 29th save.

NOTES: LHP Aaron Loup cleared waivers and was optioned to triple A-Buffalo.