Major League Baseball

Donaldson's 2nd homer lifts Blue Jays over White Sox 10-9

Published May. 26, 2015 10:40 p.m. ET

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TORONTO (AP) Josh Donaldson thrives on coming through in the clutch. He did just that Tuesday night.

Donaldson hit a three-run homer off David Robertson in the ninth inning, his second home run of the game, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays over the Chicago White Sox 10-9.

''That's probably one of the better feelings in baseball, to hit a walkoff homer,'' Donaldson said. ''You don't get the opportunity very often. When you're able to do it, it definitely feels rewarding.''

It's the second time this season, and fifth time in his career, Donaldson has ended a game with a home run: he did it in the 10th inning of a 6-5 win over Atlanta on April 18.

''Some guys kind of thrive for that moment and he's got that mindset,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''He's just one of those guys, he just wants to be the guy, the hero.''

Donaldson hit a solo homer in the first and went 4 for 4 with a walk and scored five runs for Toronto, which matched a season high with its third straight win.

Donaldson, who has connected three times in two games, said he enjoyed being mobbed at home plate by his teammates, who ripped his jersey off in celebration.

''That's the coolest part of it all, all your boys there sitting at home plate, the crowd going crazy,'' Donaldson said. ''Everybody is very exuberant because we just won the game.''

Jose Bautista went 3 for 4 with five RBIs in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a sore right shoulder, an injury treated with a cortisone injection.

With Toronto trailing 9-7, Josh Thole singled off Robertson (3-1) leading off the ninth and advanced on Jose Reyes' double. Donaldson followed with a drive into the right-field bullpen.

''Fastball away,'' Robertson said. ''It caught a little too much middle and he put a great swing on it. It's just a good hitter doing a good job.''

Robertson blew a save for the second time in 11 chances, and Chicago lost for the eighth time in nine games.

''We trust him,'' manager Robin Ventura said of Robertson. ''We're going to trust him again to go back out there and close it down.''

Steve Delabar (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings.

Jose Abreu hit a three-run homer for the White Sox, who scored just 15 runs in their previous eight games. Chicago lost despite scoring its most runs since an 8-2 win over Cincinnati on May 9.

With Chicago trailing 7-6, Carlos Sanchez hit a one-out double off Liam Hendriks in the eighth and scored the tying run on Adam Eaton's single.

Melky Cabrera reached on an infield single, putting runners at the corners. Abreu was called out at first on the back end of a double play, but Ventura challenged and umpire Jordan Baker's call was overturned, putting the White Sox up 8-7. One batter later, Alexei Ramirez hit an RBI single for a two-run lead.

LATE SHOW

Toronto won for the first time in 26 games when trailing after eight innings, while the White Sox lost for the first time in 17 games when leading after eight.

SOCCER STARS TRY BASEBALL

Three Manchester City players, midfielder James Milner and goalkeepers Joe Hart and Richard Wright, got a tour of the stadium from Bautista, with each taking a turn hitting off the tee and in the batting cages. Manchester City is in Toronto for an exhibition game against MLS team Toronto FC on Wednesday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

White Sox: OF Avisail Garcia (right knee) is expected to miss the final two games of the series after leaving Monday's game in the second inning. Ventura said Garcia will likely skip batting practice to rest his knee and keep him off Toronto's artificial turf.

Blue Jays: Bautista (right shoulder) made throws at around 90 feet and said he felt no pain. Bautista said he's hopeful he can return to the outfield for the first time since April 21 when Toronto visits Washington on Monday. ... C Dioner Navarro (left hamstring) went 1 for 3 and caught seven innings in his first rehab game at Triple-A Buffalo.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Jeff Samardzija (4-2) is seeking his third straight victory and fourth in five starts. He's gone eight innings in his past two outings, winning at Oakland on May 17 and beating Minnesota on May 22.

Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (1-3) is still looking for his first win as a starter as he makes his fifth start. He has gone 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA since joining the rotation.

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