Blue Jays draw monster ratings for Game 3

Hamels went 7.0 innings, surrendering four runs (two unearned) and striking out six in a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the Divisional Playoffs. Tons of treatment to be honest with you. “He was spotting his fastball, great changeup and I thought he used his curveball real well”. “We’re going to do what we’re supposed to do”.

Tulowitzki drove in four runs, including three with a homer for his first hit in these playoffs, and the Blue Jays cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-five series.

The key difference in outcomes is that the Blue Jays didn’t help Perez out at all, working him for nine baserunners in five innings, three of which were on walks. They had plenty of support on Monday, with Pillar going 3 for 3 with three RBIs, including singles in the third and seventh innings, and Colabello 2 for 4 with two RBIs, including a double in the third.

“It was definitely huge and in the moment I was definitely pumped up”. As Yogi would say, deja vu all over again.

“When I got up this morning, I wasn’t sure if I was going to play or not”, said Beltre, who was then asked if he was still day to day.

That was two innings after he drew a bases-loaded walk.

Beltre had two singles and a deep flyout, but the 36-year-old third baseman clearly was still having issues with his back he hurt sliding into second base Thursday. “If he catches fire, we’re real risky”.

There’s no room for doubt in Marcus Stroman’s mind.

The Rangers are paying Hamels for moments like Game 5 at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Rogers Centre.

That clincher came with Cliff Lee on the mound, and the Rangers went on to their first World Series that season.

“We’ve been in this situation before”. “Probably not a relationship-building move, but a team win, that’s what I was looking for”.

It was the top of the second inning Monday, and pitcher Holland had just faced his eighth Toronto batter of the game.

“Who else would you rather have on the mound when you have to win a game than your ace?”

Said Banister after the game, “The way things looked, seemed like everything that Derek was throwing was running back towards the middle, like the sinker continued to run back towards the middle, the changeup, the backdoor breaking ball, and when you center-cut pitches you wind up getting hurt”. Manager John Gibbons loves Stroman’s attitude and is pleased to put the pitcher in the decisive game of the best-of-five ALDS. Toronto racked up 12 hits. The Rangers won 6-4 in 14 innings Friday when both starters pitched seven innings and departed with the score 4-4. And with one out in the second, he allowed a homer to No. 8 hitter Kevin Pillar.

The Jays had waited 22 years for this to happen, a chance to play in the playoffs and it could have been all but over after three lousy games.

“They’re Canada’s team, but they’re not Montreal’s team”, said Steven Spitzer, sitting across from the Farrar brothers in a vintage, Starter-brand Expos jacket.

“Cliff was more of a command guy, but Cole has a little bit more stuff”, Maddux said.

Tulo made certain it was.

The 40-year-old knuckleballer had a six-run lead and was one out shy of qualifying for a win in his first postseason start. Toronto hit three home runs in a postseason game for the first time in team history….

“I wouldn’t necessarily count on it”, Gibbons said. “It’s poetic, is what it is for me”.

It’s hard to put a finger on the reason why Price has struggled in his first two postseason outings, but an 11-day hiatus from his final regular-season start is likely the main culprit.