Jays slugger gets a break from fielding

Josh Donaldson’s increased TORONTO production — a .688 slugging percentage in his last 32 games before the start of the Minnesota series on Friday night — together with a heavy infield workload led manager John Gibbons to try to give him a little break. He was moved to the designated hitter’s slot, with Jose Bautista shifting to third base.

“He needs a DH day,” Gibbons said. “It’s late in the season. It’s too bad you have to take (frequent DH Kendrys) Morales out, but we have to protect him a little bit, too. He’ll come back in a day game. (Twins pitcher Bartolo) Colon’s been tough on him and that factors in a bit, but Josh has to get off his feet and keep his bat in the lineup.”

RED AND WHITE BLUES

Minnesota needs to improve its tepid play in Toronto if it hopes to keep this year’s unlikely late season wild-card run alive.

The Twins were 43 games under .500 north of the border before Friday’s game, a mark of futility which began with a record of 3040 at old Exhibition Stadium and has been even worse at the Rogers Centre (43-76). The North Star State’s team has one winning record in Toronto to show for the past 10 seasons.

BIRD SEED

Gibbons was keeping an eye on hurricane Harvey, spinning close to the Texas coast and his mother’s condo in Padre Island near Corpus Christi. He also has property inland in San Antonio that would not be immune from heavy rain ... Before the game, right-hander Nick Tepesch was reinstated from the paternity list and optioned to triple-A Buffalo. His wife gave birth Wednesday. Lefty Tom House was kept, though the Jays are only a few days away from Sept. 1, when they are allowed to expand their 25man roster.