Blue Jays 15, Angels 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Third baseman Josh Donaldson drove in six runs to become the first major-leaguer to amass 100 RBIs this season while leading the Toronto Blue Jays' 15-3 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night in front of 42,578 at Angel Stadium.
The Blue Jays (68-55) used their fourth win in five games and their 18th in 22 to remain half a game behind the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East. In the process, Toronto established season highs in runs and hits for one game.
The Angels (63-60) lost ground in both the divisional and wild-card races after suffering their third successive loss and their ninth in 13 games. Los Angeles fell to third place in the American League West and now trails the first-place Houston Astros by 4 1/2 games. In the fight for the second wild-card berth, the Angels dropped half a game behind the Texas Rangers, who now hold that second spot.
Donaldson hit a three-run home run, a two-run single and a run-scoring double in finishing 4-for-5 and scoring twice. His 100 RBIs establish a new personal best, surpassing the 98 he accumulated last year with the Oakland Athletics.
Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion contributed three RBIs while extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games. Right fielder Jose Bautista and first baseman Chris Colabello each had three of the Blue Jays' 20 hits.
Right-hander Marco Estrada (11-7) earned his fourth victory in five decisions. Estrada conceded three runs and five hits, two of which were home runs, but yielded no walks and collected four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
The Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning against left-hander Andrew Heaney. Center fielder Kevin Pillar and left fielder Ben Revere began the inning with singles; and, with two outs, Donaldson sent a 94 mph fastball into the left-field bleachers for his 34th home run of the season.
Toronto then sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth against Heaney and right-hander Cam Bedrosian, turning six hits, three walks, two sacrifice flies and a wild pitch into seven runs and a 10-0 advantage.
Donaldson's two-run single and Bautista's two-run triple off the right-field wall were the big hits. Pennington and Encarnacion contributed sacrifice flies, and Revere walked with the bases loaded to force Colabello home. Colabello had two hits in the inning, both singles.
Heaney (5-2) lasted just 3 1/3 innings, his briefest appearance of the season. The left-hander allowed eight runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three and throwing 71 pitches.
The Angels broke the shutout in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring double by left fielder David Murphy, the 200th double of his career. Donaldson responded with his own RBI double in the top of the fifth to restore Toronto's 10-run lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Los Angeles used two solo home runs to narrow the deficit to 11-3. Designated hitter C.J. Cron hit his 10th homer of the season, a solo drive over the center-field fence. One out later, third baseman Kaleb Cowart got his first major-league hit by propelling Estrada's 79 mph fastball about three rows into the right-field bleachers.
NOTES: Toronto C Russell Martin received the game off in favor of Dioner Navarro. Martin had been playing despite a sore left hamstring. ... Blue Jays LF Ben Revere recorded his second four-hit game of the season Friday night and the 14th of his career. ... Blue Jays DH Edwin Encarnacion had reached base in 22 consecutive games entering Saturday. ... Los Angeles optioned RHP Nick Tropeano to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled INF Grant Green. Green started at second base and batted ninth. ... Angels CF Mike Trout and 1B Albert Pujols are on pace to become the first duo to hit 40 home runs apiece in club history. ... The Angels inducted Dean Chance, Tim Salmon and Mike Witt into the club's Hall of Fame. Chance won the Cy Young Award in 1964, when only one pitcher in the major leagues could receive it. Salmon holds the team record with 299 home runs. Witt threw a perfect game in 1984 and combined with Mark Langston on a no-hitter in 1990.