Josh Donaldson, John Gibbons, and a Tale of Four Innings

Josh Donaldson and John Gibbons with a heated exchange in the dugout, after Donaldson K's, throws bat. #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/tLl1F9AB5C
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) August 17, 2016

It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. Then it was the worst of times again, and back to the best of times in the end.

The Toronto Blue Jays are rolling. The power squad from the Great White North is just mashin' poutine, second in the league to only the Orioles in home runs, and in the top five in runs, RBIs, SLG %, OPS+, and sit atop the A.L. East.

It's a slim margin, only a game separates Toronto from both Baltimore and Boston. And by a hair, the Blue Jays have the toughest schedule remaining according to PredictionMachine.com.

Euphoria abounds. Tension builds. Let's go to the play-by-play.

Third inning: At Yankee Stadium this afternoon, the Blue Jays, and all-star Josh Donaldson in particular, ran the highs-and-lows gamut like the Dickens. After his second swinging whiff in his first two at-bats against C.C. Sabathia (who finished with twelve strikeouts in six innings in a throwback performance), the third baseman grabbed his bat and brought it toward the dugout. Then he proceeded to whip it around like an unsightly mulleted-ponytail, much to the annoyance of nearby manager John Gibbons.

Considering how close Donaldson took his cut to the Skipper, and the ever-present chance of splintering or ricocheting, it seemed like a rather idiotic thing to do. No matter how much of a "gamer" you are, breaking a teammate's orbital bone because you can't catch up to Sabathia's four-seamer isn't showing passion. Gibbons got on him and a heated exchange ensued. Thankfully, Josh Thole was on the spot. Thus marking the first time that has ever been written of Josh Thole.

Fifth inning: Donaldson reaches on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, he comes in to score on a Russell Martin single to right. Gibbons steps up and high-fives his wayward son.

Gibbons/Donaldson high-five after JD scores. pic.twitter.com/x6cTJwAa1c
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) August 17, 2016

Sixth Inning: Donaldson gets jammed on an inside pitch from Sabathia. He injures his right thumb and has to leave the game.

Josh Donaldson leaves game after getting jammed in last at-bat. Thumb/hand injury? #bluejays pic.twitter.com/3V4hWs5WBG
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) August 17, 2016

Ninth Inning: Blue Jays 7, Yankees 4

The end.