Chris Coghlan goes airborne in wild 6-5 Blue Jays win

What dimension is this?

Russell Martin starts at third base. Marcus Stroman doubles in extra innings and scores the game-winning run. Chris Coghlan defies all known laws of gravity. I could get used to this kind of game. The Blue Jays win, but the celebration is sitting on the back burner after tonight’s game -- this was an event of the bizarre.

Russell Martin started at third base for the first time since 2013 because of his red-hot bat. “You look at that lineup,” manager John Gibbons told media prior to the game. “He looks great at the plate right now. Our big thing is scoring runs. There’s no doubt in my mind that he can do it. You look at that lineup, he’s probably the best athlete on that field. We’ll give it a go. If it works, we may do it again and give Salty a shot to get hot. We’ll see.”

The move paid off, as he hit an infield single and was hit by a pitch later in the game.

In the top of the fourth, Ezequiel Carrera hit a line drive to first baseman Matt Adams, who fumbled the ball, allowing Carrera to reach first safely. Jose Bautista, up next, singled to right field, and Carrera, advancing to third, was hit in the head with the throw. The ball ricocheted towards the Toronto dugout, allowing Carrera to score Toronto’s first run of the game and Bautista to advance to third. Kendrys Morales grounded out to shortstop in the next at bat, which allowed Bautista to score through the back door to give the Blue Jays an early 2-1 lead.

The Blue Jays proceeded to load the bases, but the inning ended when Marco Estrada struck out. Nonetheless, Toronto’s offense is looking potent -- an extremely good sign, given their inability to score runs earlier this season.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh, Chris Coghlan walked to start the inning. Then Kevin Pillar hit a long fly ball to right field that bounced off of the wall. Coghlan, rounding third and heading for home, was clearly behind the throw. He was going to be out. No words can describe this play.

After getting another run in the inning, the Cardinals refused to give up -- striking back with a two-run home run from Jose Martinez. The tied game didn’t last for long.

In the top of the ninth, former Blue Jay Brett Cecil committed an errant throw to first base on a pick off attempt, sending Kevin Pillar to third. Jose Bautista, with one out in the inning, shot a single past the third baseman to right field to give Toronto a 5-4 lead.

Once again, the lead didn’t last. With the game on the line, Dexter Fowler hit an infield single, tying the game. Extra innings.

In the 11th, John Gibbons made a questionable call -- putting in Marcus Stroman as a pinch hitter. Boy, did it ever pay off. Stroman doubled down the left field line, the first pinch hit by a pitcher in Blue Jay history, and came around to score the game-winning run on a throwing error by shortstop Aledmys Diaz, the fourth Cardinal error of the night. The Blue Jays win, 6-5.

Welcome to the eighth dimension. I could get used to this.

Follow Mark Colley on Twitter: @MarkColley.