It was a dramatic way to win and disappointing way to lose in a game that featured strong starting pitching, timely hits and shrewd defence from both squads.
The Jays had the bases loaded when Donnelly's pitch to Corey Koskie hit the dirt and skipped by Angels catcher Bengie Molina. Adams easily slid into home plate for the winning run.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Adams led off the frame with a single off Donnelly then moved to second on Frank Catalanotto's sacrifice bunt. After Vernon Wells was intentionally walked, Aaron Hill reached on an infield single to load the bases and set up the winning run.
Blue Jays Orlando Hudson, right, and third base coach Brian Butterfield celebrate with Russ Adams after he scored the winning run. (CP Photo/Aaron Harris)
Adams was convinced he would score, but figured it would be Koskie who would drive him home.
"I was just sitting over there confident that Corey was going to get it done and then all of a sudden the ball bounces past the catcher," Adams said. "I hesitated for a split second, just to make sure, but it kicked far enough away from him that I had to go ahead and go."
It was a highlight-reel play by Koskie that may have been the spark that got the Jays going in extra innings.
An injury kept Koskie on the sidelines for 58 games, but the lengthy layoff didn't seem to hurt the play of the native of Anola, Man.
In the 10th, Koskie chased down a foul ball near the third baseline and made a sensational diving catch to get the out.
"I don't know what it looks like on the replay but from my perspective, that was one of the best plays I've ever seen," Adams said. "That's momentum and we kind of fed off that, I believe."
The out helped the Jays get out of a troublesome inning. Reliever Miguel Batista escaped the two-out, bases-loaded jam by getting Molina to ground out to the mound.
Koskie and Alex Rios each drove in a run, while Wells collected a pair of hits and scored once for the Blue Jays, who have won two in a row and six of eight.
Toronto starter Josh Towers went the first 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits.
Angels starter Bartolo Colon worked seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five.
"It was a great baseball game. Our defence stepped up tremendously," said Towers, referring to big plays by Koskie, Wells, Frank Catalanotto and Orlando Hudson.
Vladimir Guerrero drilled a solo homer, while Darin Erstad went 3-for-5 for the Angels, who have dropped three straight after a three-game winning streak.
The Angels grabbed the lead thanks to Guerrero's two-out blast in the first. Eric Hinske dropped what would have been the final out of the inning when Guerrero hit a pop up in foul territory.
However, Guerrero was able to work a 3-2 count on Towers before drilling his 19th homer of the season.
Toronto knotted the game with a run in the second, but the Angels responded with a run in the third to regain the lead.
Gregg Zaun got things started for the Blue Jays by drawing a two-out walk. After Hinske laced a single, Rios roped an RBI single to centre to make it 1-1.
In the third, the Angels regained the lead thanks to Erstad's RBI single. Adam Kennedy doubled with one away and one-out scored on Erstad's single to centre.
Toronto, though, responded with a run in the fifth to tie the game. Wells tripled to deep right with one away and one batter later scored on Koskie's single to right.
The Angels squandered a scoring chance in the eighth when they put runners on the corners with one away. However, Jason Frasor retired the next two batters to end the frame.
with files from Canadian Press and Sports Network
