Aaron Sanchez: (Suspension) Will Appeal Ruling

He has a.350/.480/.600 triple slash line in his first six games with the Blue Jays.

A pregame meeting couldn’t lift Minnesota’s slumping offense out of its recent malaise.

Even though the Twins didn’t stop their scoring drought, third baseman Trevor Plouffe said the team remains confident.

David Price Day had everything from rousing ovations and powering strikeouts to the thrill of danger and the offensive explosion the Toronto Blue Jays are known for.

“I haven’t thought about that stuff, but no doubt”, manager John Gibbons said.

“We didn’t get much going after that”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

Justin Verlander (1-4) struggled, allowing five runs on 10 hits in seven innings.

Price, acquired from Detroit two days before the trade deadline last week, allowed a second-inning solo home run to his former Tigers teammate Torii Hunter, but almost nothing else, finishing up with just three hits over eight innings in his Toronto debut.

In falling for the 12th time in 17 games since the all-star break, the Twins (54-52) finally ceded possession of the second wild-card spot in the American League.

Notes – The Oakland Athletics claimed infielder/outfielder Danny Valencia off waivers from the Blue Jays. “I wasn’t trying to do a Knute Rockne or anything, just kind of get out there and make sure we understood where we’re at and what we still have an opportunity to accomplish”.

Home plate umpire Jim Wolf who ejected Sanchez, right, looks on. “I’ve pitched in really big games… but that atmosphere (Monday), that takes the cake”. The pressure may be on, but it’s a good pressure distributed among 25 players. Hutchison did not get a decision in a 7-6 win versus Kansas City with four runs plated in five frames.

Gibbons is to miss Monday night’s home game against Minnesota.

Three Jays relievers, Mark Lowe, Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna, combined for 2 1/3 shutout innings, with Osuna picking up his eighth save in nine opportunities. Josh Donaldson (.293, 75 Rs, 28 HRs, 78 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run, one home run, and one RBI. “It helps to know the guys behind you will make every single play”.

Back-to-back doubles by Edwin Encarnacion and Dioner Navarro, who has been on the trade market since Russell Martin signed, gave the Jays a third run and a cushion to ride the rest of the way home. He installed Tulowitzki in the No. 1 hole, leaving Josh Donaldson hitting second and Jose Bautista third.

In the top half of the eighth, Sanchez took his turn on Royals’ shortstop Alcides Escobar and was immediately ejected as warnings had already been dished out to both teams. It was deemed retaliation in response to Donaldson and Tulowitzki being hit earlier in the afternoon, which then caused Gibbons to come back onto the field (following his ejection) when the benches cleared after Sanchez beamed Escobar. Estrada is now 9-6 with a 3.67 ERA as a starter.