Score a bunch of runs, play tight defence (unlike in Game 2) and rely on Estrada to subdue the Rangers’ offence.
Advertisement
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. “That’s what it’s going to take because really that’s the identity of our club”.
“I’m going to give it my all, no matter what”, Estrada said Friday.
The victory in Kansas City tied the series at one game apiece, with game three in Houston on Sunday. “Obviously we want Adrian in the game”. We still have our ultimate goal and we still have to get more wins than just the next one.
“I think I did a pretty good job” said Odor. This is not a time to navel-gaze and point fingers because no amount of introspection will help them get out of this hole. The bullpen saw five hurlers toss seven shutout innings with Ross Ohlendorf striking out the side in the 14th to pick up the save.
A wild contest, that included a 13th inning dugout clearing stare down, was decided when Texas staged a two out rally in the 14th with Hanser Alberto, filling in for injured Adrian Beltre, and Delino DeShields driving in runs.
“This is an uphill battle but it’s been done before”, Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said.
Toronto tops the league in runs with 898 this season. Kershaw went 6.2 innings, and struck out 11 in the loss.
The game was a baseball smorgasbord, with something for all tastes. Good pitching, great fielding, managerial moves and tactical hitting. After issuing a one-out walk, the speedy Carlos Gomez came in as a pinch-runner. Nothing came of the incident, however. He didn’t back down, I didn’t back down.
Bautista crushed a ball deep, but just foul, in the fifth that would have blown the game open.
Both bullpens held firm over the next five innings.
Blue Jays right-hander Roberto Osuna and Rangers left-hander Jake Diekman each had a 1-2-3 ninth and 10th. Game time is slated for 7:10 p.m. Connecticut. Alberto, a third baseman, singled to center to score Odor.
Stroman then got three outs on two grounders to first. The home team certainly took issue with home-plate umpire Vic Carapazza’s strike zone. Gibbons said he suffered a calf tear.
Price hit just three batters in the regular season, none after Toronto obtained him from Detroit on July 30th.
Veteran LaTroy Hawkins was on the hill for the Blue Jays, and simply didn’t have it. After a pair of lineouts to lead off the inning, Odor struck again with an infield single. Napoli was picked off first to end the inning and Cecil, who made the tag in the rundown, limped off the field.
A raucous crowd of 49,716 watched under the Rogers Centre dome, with fans elsewhere doing their best to balance work and play with a lunchtime start that stretched into Happy Hour.
Dickey has been announced as the Game 4 starter. Colabello also had a starring role, putting on a show at first base for the Jays. The party should just be getting started after 22 years away from the postseason.
Donaldson was in the lineup a day after taking a knee to the head in the series opener, passing concussion tests on Thursday night and yesterday morning before he was cleared to play. Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak was once a prized Rangers prospect before he was the key piece to the trade that brought back Cliff Lee from Seattle for the final few months of the magical 2010 season.
While doctors have given him no timeline for his return, Cecil said he would not need surgery and would be ready for spring training.
He posted a 2.62 ERA in his last 20 starts, although five of the last seven were no decisions. He had retired 18 of his last 21 before giving way.
“It’s a big game”, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of the tension, adding that after dropping two at home his team faces a tough challenge to keep their playoff campaign alive.
Advertisement
The lone Toronto lineup change has Chris Colabello in for Justin Smoak at first base. Pillar asked. “Not lose first of all”.
