Is there anything Josh Donaldson can't do?
The likely AL MVP has impressed all season and was up to his old tricks again Sunday when he blasted a walkoff home run to beat the Rays 5-4.
"He's dangerous. He's got that flair for the dramatic," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Donaldson, via MLB.com. "He's done that so many times this year."
Donaldson, 29, is batting .299 with 41 home runs and 122 RBIs in his first season in Toronto.
Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run in the first inning and he issued some kind words for his clutch teammate after the game.
"That's what he does every day. It's expected now," Smoak said, via MLB.com. "This is the guy you want up in those situations."
Toronto remained four games ahead of the Yankees with the win, and with just seven games to go it could lock up the AL East early this week.
Star Performers:
AL:
Astros first baseman Chris Carter went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and a solo home run to lead Houston over the Rangers and move 2 1/2 games back in the AL West. Dallas Keuchel gave up just one run on two hits while striking out 10 to earn his 19th win of the season. He finished the year 15-0 at home.
NL:
Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta tossed seven scoreless innings on just one hit in a 4-0 win against the Pirates. The NL Cy Young favorite took a perfect game into the seventh inning, but Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco ended it with a single. Arrieta is 21-6 on the season and has given up just four earned runs in his past 11 starts (82 1/3 innings).
Eric Campbell and Dilson Herrera led the Mets to an 8-1 win over the Reds. They combined for six hits, five runs, a home run and two RBIs. Jacob deGrom gave up just one run in six innings with nine strikeouts to collect his 14th win of the season.
Plays of the Day:
Josh Donaldson's walkoff home run to beat the Rays:
Twins rookie Byron Buxton hit his first career home run:
Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr made a splendid diving grab:
A Look Ahead: (All times Eastern)
Cardinals (98-58) at Pirates (95-60), 7:05 p.m.: Jake Arietta and the Cubs snapped Pittsburgh's eight-game winning streak Sunday night, but the Pirates are still within shouting distance of the Cardinals in the NL Central, just three games back. This series could be decisive.
Dodgers (87-68) at Giants (81-74), 10:15 p.m.: The Dodgers had a chance to clinch the NL West with a win or Giants loss Sunday, but neither of those things happened, which means San Francisco is mathematically still alive. The Dodgers are still six games ahead, but they've lost three straight and won't want to drop any in this series.