Heading back north for a decisive fifth game at Rogers Centre would leave the AL West champions in a bad spot, as only five times have clubs allowed a 2-0 advantage in the division to slip away.
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That’s why it’s fitting that his first career postseason start will be in Arlington when he takes the ball for the Toronto Blue Jays. Last night the Blue Jays could have went down without a battle as the Texas Rangers rolled over them to complete the 3 game sweep and win the ALDS. Left fielder Josh Hamilton finished with two of Texas’ five hits.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez (21) pauses after…
However, the Blue Jays comprehensively outplayed and out pitched the Rangers in Game 3 to win 5-1 and inch their way back into this series.
Taking the mound for the Jays is right hander Marco Estrada who will face off against Martin Perez in a must-win game for Toronto. So if the Rangers are squaring Dickey up early Price could get into the game quick.
“We have put ourselves in a ideal position, but we have to stay on top of them”, Rangers reliever Shawn Tolleson said after the Game 2 victory. Perez was in trouble but a clutch double play from Rougned Odor got him out of the inning. “Really the big blow was, I think it was a changeup to Tulowitzki….”
Leading the series 2-1, Texas has another chance Monday to clinch it at home.
Price hit Odor with a pitch for the second straight at-bat, and Chirinos homered for a 4-1 lead. “So that’s good news”, Gibbons said.
“That’s what we really needed from him“, Banister said. He ended up walking three and allowing four runs on six hits before getting pulled after allowing back-to-back hits to open the sixth inning. He talked with reporters before Sunday’s game in Arlington about facing his old team and making his first postseason start. Holland has extensive postseason experience with a 3.79 ERA in 13 appearances, going 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in four starts in the 2011 playoffs. However he left with two outs in the 7 inning trailing 1-0 (and the bases loaded). “Then just the adrenaline took over for a second, and just the pain set in, and it was tough to get off the field”. Tulowitzki followed with his drive. An intentional walk to Edwin Encarnacion backfired, as the next two batters, Chris Colabello and Troy Tulowitzki were unintentionally walked, scoring Donaldson. Donaldson was greeted with a chorus of boos from Rangers fans, who apparently read lips during his dustup with reliever Keone Kela in the 13th inning of Game 2 that Texas won 6-4 in the 14th. But catcher Dioner Navarro called a great game behind the plate, as his excellent chemistry with Estrada was on full display.
“We’re all at Game 165 now. They don’t rattle and they come to play and they think we can win three in a row”. “You wonder what’s going on here, you go maybe this isn’t meant to be”.
The right-hander began his career with Texas in 2001.
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“It’s definitely more intense … and I’ve loved every minute of it”, Gibbons said. “It’s poetic, is what it is for me”.
