Jose Bautista smashed a three run homer in the seventh as Toronto beat the Texas Rangers 6-3, advancing the Blue Jays to the AL Championship Series where they will face the Kansas City Royals.
Toronto eliminated the Rangers three games to two in the divisional series to reach Major League Baseball’s playoff semi-finals for the first time since they won the 1993 World Series title.
“Unbelievable feeling. Unbelievable energy from the fans,” said Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin, a Canadian. “This is awesome. Words can’t describe the feelings inside me.”
In the night contest, Johnny Cueto made his presence known by holding the Houston Astros to two hits over eight innings as the Royals beat the Houston Astros 7-2 to win their series in five games.
Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, the Blue Jays equalized when Josh Donaldson grounded into a bases loaded fielder’s choice to score the tying run.
That set the stage for 34-year-old Dominican outfielder Bautista’s decisive blast.
“For intensity and emotion, it was the most emotionally charged game I have ever played,” Bautista said.
“There was so much stuff going on. It was just the whole game, a do or die game. It was just the moment. I felt it. I did it. I’m just glad I was able to hit the heck out of the ball.”
Rangers leadoff batter Delino DeShields opened with a double, took third base on a Choo Shin-Soo ground out and scored when Prince Fielder grounded into a fielder’s choice.
South Korean standout Choo smashed his second career playoff homer in the third inning to put the Rangers ahead 2-0.
But the Blue Jays answered when Ben Revere scored from second on a Bautista double in the third inning and Edwin Encarnacion blasted a solo homer to equalize in the sixth.
In the seventh, Texas second baseman Rougned Odor singled, advanced to third on two ground outs and scored on one of the most bizarre plays of this or any season.
Toronto catcher Martin was throwing the ball back to pitcher Aaron Sanchez when it struck Choo’s bat as he stood in the batter’s box.
The ball dribbled onto the field and Odor, realizing the ball was in play, raced home as the stunned Toronto fielders and fans looked on, umpires ruling he scored the go-ahead run for the Rangers.
– Bottles tossed on field –
As supporters tossed bottles onto the field, the Blue Jays protested the call and the game but the decision stood, television replays showing the routine toss back to the mound deflected off Choo’s bat, an error on Martin.
“I just caught the ball and threw it back very casually,” Martin admitted.
“It hit his bat and they scored. I don’t know the rule. I had never had that happen before.
“You can either feel sorry for yourself or try and do something about it. We did something about it, capitalized on a couple mistakes and that’s what won us the game.”
Texas brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth but Toronto relief pitcher Roberto Osuna struck out Josh Hamilton and Elvis Andrus to end the inning. He also struck out pinch hitters Mike Napoli and Will Venable in the ninth for the final two outs of the game.
Elsewhere, Cueto, who was acquired in a July 26 trade with the Cincinnati Reds, retired the final 19 batters he faced after third baseman Luis Valbuena hit a two-run homer in the second inning. It was the only miscue of Cueto’s night.
“Games like this is where you see the real Johnny Cueto come out,” he said.
“I told my team I was going to show up today and get the job done. You can count on me to show up in games like this.”
The right-hander walked none and struck out eight, his high in 15 starts with the Royals, including two starts in the AL Division Series.
While Cueto was brought in to be the staff ace, he was disappointing until Wednesday.
But he came through when Kansas City needed him the most to record his first playoff win.
“The reason why we got him is for games like this,” said teammate Eric Hosmer.