The Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays face off on Monday in Game 4 of their AL Division Series as the Major League Baseball Playoffs 2015 continue.
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After back-to-back losses at the Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays reduced the deficit in the American League (AL) Division Series to 2-1.
Home plate umpire Dale Scott initially ruled it a dead ball but, after Rangers manager Jeff Banister questioned the call, the umpires huddled and Odor was sent home. In an effort to remain in the series, Beltre had a cortisone shot.
“We went in the tunnel back there (behind the dugout) to get out of the way”, Rangers pitcher Sam Dyson said of the barrage of bottles and other items. “He’s the heart and soul of this ballclub”.
History was not on Toronto’s side going into Sunday’s game. “We’re at Game 165 now”. R.A. Dickey and Derek Holland are expected to start for the Blue Jays and Rangers respectively.
“They check for concussions, and apparently he passed all the tests”.
“Shoot, he was unbelievable”, said Gibbons.
After three Texas relievers combined to pitch four innings of one-run ball Sunday, the Rangers bullpen has a 2.08 ERA in the series (three runs in 13 innings).
“We have to talk to him”, manager John Gibbons said.
Said Tulowitzki, “I think we were more patient in those big situations…”
Toronto grounded into four double plays, a franchise record for the post-season. “We’re not used to playing right now.’ But I feel really good, which is good because (Monday), you know, I’m going to need to lean on everything I’ve got”. “He didn’t make those mistakes that we capitalize on.”.
In Houston, Texas, starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel held Kansas City to one run in seven innings to lead the Astros to victory. The Rangers will start left-hander Derek Holland in Game 4. “It’s definitely not 100 per cent – I said that at the beginning of the series – but good enough to go, good enough to play”. He hit 100 miles per hour three times in Game 2.
“He wasn’t getting hit around”.
“He’s had a few key hits along the way, but not like he normally does”. In 2014 he went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs.
It wasn’t exactly a barrage, but it helped the Blue Jays reach their magic number: five runs.
Texas still leads the best-of-five set 2-1. Paradoxically, the Rangers’ first hit, a Hanser Alberto double, came as a result of Pillar freezing for a split second on contact, which may have prevented him from making another highlight-reel catch. Efren Navarro led it off with double, becoming the game’s first baserunner. “I don’t know if I can get into physics, I have a hard enough time with this”.
Price hit just three batters all season, none after Toronto obtained him from Detroit on July 30th. Cliff Pennington took over defensively in the sixth. Odor homered in the seventh.
Dane Johnson sat at the back of the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse.
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Very quietly, Marco Estrada, one of the least-heralded players on the Blue Jays roster, dominated the Rangers lineup with a deceptive fastball and devastating off-speed pitches.
