Jays launch more bombs, get win No. 4
BLUE JAYS 14, WHITE SOX 5
The Blue Jays have been TORONTO going yard more often this spring than the landscape guy.
Josh Donaldson and Aledmys Diaz both hit two-run home runs on Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre to lift the Jays to a 14-5 laugher over the Chicago White Sox, Toronto’s fourth win a row.
The 4-2 Jays have belted 10 homers in six games this season.
The White Sox went deep three times, courtesy of Tim Anderson in the fourth, Avisail Garcia in the fifth and Yolmer Sanchez in the eighth, the first two off Toronto starter J.A. Happ, who went 51/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while picking up his first win. Happ also struck out nine, walked one and recorded one hit batter, Jose Abreu, to lead off the third.
Sanchez’s bomb came off relief pitcher Tyler Clippard.
Anderson was a huge thorn in the side of Happ, going 3-for-3.
Donaldson looked good back in his usual spot at third after being given a few days off from playing the field because of “dead arm” issues. He also put the Jays up 7-4 in the sixth with a single off the wall in left to score Diaz. Diaz went 3-for-3 with a homer and double before leaving the game.
Toronto second baseman Yangervis Solarte continued swinging a hot bat, knocking a double and a single off White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez.
Happ gave up a run in the second, despite posting three strikeouts. After giving up a leadoff single to Anderson and walking Adam Engel, left-fielder Nicky Delmonico singled home Anderson for the 1-0 lead.
After catcher Luke Maile opened the third with a double along the line in left, Diaz smacked his homer in the third, his second of the season, to put the Jays on the board. He was forced to leave the game in the seventh with back spasms. Later in the inning, Justin Smoak scored with two out when Anderson booted a grounder by Randal Grichuk, putting Toronto ahead 3-1.