TORONTO — Josh Donaldson’s bat is so hot right now, they should store it in a fire-resistant bag.
The Bringer of Rain smashed two home runs on Thursday afternoon, his 19th and 20th of the season, to lead the Blue Jays to a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at the Rogers Centre.
Both of Donaldson’s blasts were solo jobs. He was also on base in the bottom of the eighth, via a walk, when Justin Smoak hit a two-run bomb to centre to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Jays to the win.
Smoak’s homer off Tampa reliever Tommy Hunter was his team-leading 33rd and the shot ruined a solid outing by Rays starter Chris Archer, who went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits and striking out 10.