Jays get boppers back
Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki activated from disabled list in time to help Toronto beat Texas 7-6
TORONTO — The injury-plagued Toronto Blue Jays received some welcome relief Friday as two of the team’s star players returned after extended absences.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki were activated from the disabled list before the opener of a weekend series against the Texas Rangers.
“They’re two huge parts of our team,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “We feel good. We survived their absence anyway. We didn’t totally disappear, so we’ll see. At least our lineup looks like it was supposed to look. We’ll see if we can do anything with it.”
On the field, Devon Travis hit his second career grand slam and Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales also knocked in homers as the Blue Jays beat the Rangers 7-6.
Jays arch-nemesis Rougned Odor connected on a 1-1 pitch from Joe Smith for a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to make things very nervous for the 40,754 in attendance at Rogers Centre before Roberto Osuna came in to strike out Mike Napoli to pick up his eighth save of the season.
Jays starter Mike Bolsinger went 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs while Aaron Loup (2-0) earned the victory.
Donaldson and Tulowitzki each received rousing ovations when they came to the plate — and they both contributed to the victory.
Donaldson doubled in his first at-bat and Tulowitzki walked twice and singled to left-centre field in the seventh.
After a disastrous April, the Blue Jays have looked much better in May. They took a 21-26 record and three-game winning streak into Friday night’s game.
“These guys did a nice job holding it together,” Tulowitzki said during batting practice. “No one ran away with the division, not like anybody does this early.
“But there’s definitely an opportunity out there and hopefully with this veteran ballclub we can make the most of it.”
Donaldson, the 2015 American League most valuable player, missed six weeks with a calf injury. Tulowitzki, a five-time all-star, missed five weeks with a hamstring injury.
Donaldson returned to his usual No. 2 spot in the batting order while Tulowitzki was slotted in the No. 7 position.
“We’ve been waiting on this day,” Gibbons said. “It’s kind of nice that they’ll both be back together. Really these are two key parts of how the team was put together. I feel good about what the other guys did holding down the fort.
“We’re still naturally not where we wanted to be anyway, but I think we could have very easily disappeared. But those other guys played so good.”
RED SOX 3, MARINERS 0
BOSTON (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox took advantage of a sloppy performance by the Seattle Mariners to earn their season-high fifth straight win, 3-0 on Friday night.
It was the third consecutive win for Rodriguez (4-1), who went six innings, gave up just five hits and struck out four while throwing a season-high 112 pitches. Craig Kimbrel earned his 13th save.
Rodriguez has pitched at least six innings in his last seven starts, going 4-0 in that span.
The only run support Rodriguez needed came in the second inning when Hanley Ramirez scored on Josh Rutledge’s RBI groundout. Boston added two more runs in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch and passed ball.
Yovani Gallardo (2-5) took the loss. He lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits. Seattle has won just one of its last seven.