Donaldson a believer in discipline

You don’t have to watch Josh Donaldson for long to understand he’s more than a home run hitter.

Sure, the Toronto Blue Jays third baseman has seven homers in just 70 at bats this season, but his discipline at the plate is a big part of his success. Before he hit a game-winning homer in the 10th inning on Wednesday in Oakland, Calif., Donaldson had drawn three walks from the Oakland A’s. He has 13 walks in just 20 games.

“They pitch me carefully and that’s just part of the game,” said Donaldson, who had the sixth three-walk game of his career. “I take pride in having a good approach at the plate.

“I was able to go up there and take advantage of my pitch. Part of my game is hitting home runs. Whenever (an opposing pitcher) makes mistakes, I have that ability. That’s why guys pitch carefully to me.”

As for the big recent run of homers — including two game-winners in the past 10 days and three in total against the New York Yankees, Donaldson admits his fifth-deck homer against the Cincinnati Reds was especially gratifying.

“The fifth-decker was sick because I haven’t done that before,” he said.

Notes: It appears Jays utility man Steve Pearce is getting closer to a return to the lineup. Pearce has been on the disabled list with a calf strain since May 15, missing 22 games. But on Thursday, he returned to action in a rehab assignment for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Though not known for his fielding, the Jays could use a swift return of Pearce out in left field given the recent struggles of Ezequiel Carrera and Chris Coghlan. Pearce was listed as the designated hitter in Thursday’s lineup.