Blue Jays' Donaldson boosts MVP case with walk-off HR

Tied at four, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth - there's only one man the Toronto Blue Jays want to have at the plate.

Josh Donaldson.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

The 41st home run of the season for Donaldson was also his third walk-off of the year, giving the Blue Jays a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

"Ever since I was young I’ve always looked forward to the big moments in the game. I want to be able to come through," the AL MVP candidate said following the game. "I want to be able to get the job done for my team, because I know my team expects me to do that and I expect that out of myself."

Earlier in the game, he became the second player in Blue Jays history with 120 runs and 120 RBIs in a season.

"It's a fitting end to our home season," added Blue Jays manager John Gibbons.

The Jays will now head to the road, playing four games at Camden Yards against the Baltimore Orioles before wrapping up the regular season with a three-game set in St. Petersburg against the Rays.

Justin Smoak had three RBIs with a ground rule double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the sixth, while Kevin Pillar tied the game in the eighth with an RBI double of his own.

Left-hander Mark Buehrle gave up four runs over six innings of work, but a bullpen trio of Liam Hendriks, Aaron Sanchez, and Brett Cecil shut the Rays down the rest of the way.

With the win, the Blue Jays' magic number to clinch the AL East dropped to four. Toronto also moved a half-game ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the best record in the American League. The Royals are facing the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.