Toronto overcomes 2-0 deficit, wins dramatic clinching game

Texas Rangers’ Rougned Odor, left, celebrates with Prince Fielder after scoring a run during the seventh inning in Game 5 of baseball’s American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday…

But in the immediate aftermath of the Toronto Blue Jays’ ALDS-clinching win over the Texas Rangers, the rookie closer stayed composed, answering questions thoughtfully while accepting the congratulations of friends and teammates. Toronto catcher Russell Martin hit Texas batter Shin-Soo Choo with his seemingly simple return throw to the pitcher, which resulted in a go-ahead run for the Rangers after several conferences and an umpire’s review. Dyson made contact with Tulowitzki as he walked off, leading benches to clear again, with Texas catcher Chris Gimenez shoving Tulowitzki.

It was crazy. The atmosphere had elements of European football at its most insane. “We lose together”, Martin said. It was incredible to see. Players like this think that they are the heroes baseball needs but, in reality, they’re the one thing holding it back. “You have to win the game at that point”. When Jose Bautista climbed up beside them, a moment he probably dreamt about for much of his storied baseball career, first there was more hugs, then applause, then another chant.

It was the Jays’ first postseason series win since the 1993 World Series.

Still, when the youngest pitcher in baseball is closing out games on a massive stage, he’s going to attract a few attention. People’s emotions get involved and it’s a different type of game. “It was a fun game but we came out on the wrong end”.

Don’t forget about Edwin Encarnacion, either.

The dagger came in Game 6, when the Royals tied the series behind George Brett’s third homer of the series and a two-run sixth inning.

There were other heroes, too.

After Dalton Pompey pinch ran for Martin, Ryan Goins followed with a sacrifice bunt. All three are homegrown Blue Jays’ talents, drafted or signed and developed by the franchise. Sanchez followed in July of 2014 and Osuna reached the majors in the spring of 2015. All are big parts of the club’s future, let alone the present.

The Rangers went ahead in the top seventh on a freakish play, with Choo in the thick of it. It squirted toward third base. Aaron Sanchez delivered a pitch, which Choo took. Odor immediately took off for home and scored easily.

Small children were caught in the crossfire when angry fans threw cans and other items during a Major League baseball match in Canada. In such cases, the umpire shall call “Time” only (no interference).

“I watch him throw”.

Choo did, however, tilt his bat and his hands back over the plate just as Martin lobbed the ball back to Sanchez. “I called time but then it started clicking”. I went, wait a minute wait a minute, there’s no intent on the hitter.

“I don’t mean any disrespect, whatever I do, anything like that, and I certainly didn’t plan it”, Bautista told Fox Sports during his on-field interview. It’s cocky, it’s brash, and it’s exactly the response you should have to hitting a second deck shot to give your team a three run lead in an elimination game in the ALDS. Finally he said he wanted to protest the game.

Scott acknowledged making a mistake with his initial ruling. “Only in Toronto. Go Blue Jays”.

Pillar led the team with a. 412 batting average through the first four games of the series and had a third-best OPS of 1.118.

He continues with his rest and rehabilitation and his goal is clear. “To see them grow from when I got here to now and continue to take steps in the right direction?” “It was just how much better it felt that day as opposed to the first two days and it’s just been progressing a lot better than expected”.