Blue Jays Knock Off: The Toronto Blue Jays have roared their way back into the American League Championship Series, shellacking Seattle 8-2 to send this series the distance. Now, with the series even at 2-2, the Blue Jays have ensured a Game 5 that could decide who will go to the World Series.
Mad Max Returns When It Matters Most
A healthy Max Scherzer who pitched poorly at the end of the regular season reminded everybody he’s a future Hall of Famer. The 41-year-old right-hander threw 5.2 innings of two-run ball, striking out five and limiting the Mariners to only three hits.
Scherzer’s patent competitive nature was clear in the fifth when Bisons manager John Schneider came out of the dugout with what looked like a hook. The three-time Cy Young Award winner wasn’t having any of it as he screamed out “No!” and making a passionate case to stay in the game. Schneider relented, and Scherzer repaid that faith by fanning Randy Arozarena to end the inning.
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“I love this. ‘This is why you play’ It’s hard not to love pitchers who scribe such good copy after a game. “You want to be out there pitching during the playoffs. It was also his first playoff win since he had clinched the 2019 World Series with Washington.
Giménez Ignites the Offense—Again
And two nights in a row, Andrés Giménez ignited Toronto’s offense. The Blue Jays’ shortstop belted a two-run home run in the third inning off Mariners ace Luis Castillo, erasing a 1-0 deficit and leading Toronto to a lead it would never relinquish.
It was almost identical to his Game 3 home run — both came in the third inning, both were two-run homers and both turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Giménez, after the eight-pitch at-bat in which he fouled off several two-strike pitches, 85 miles per hour on a slider and sent it soaring into the right field bleachers.
The power outburst was particularly striking because Urshela had not homered in a span of 23 previous postseason games and closed the regular season with one home run over his final 25 games. Giménez also had a run-scoring single in the eighth, knocking in two more insurance runs to give him four RBIs on the night.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sets record with fifth home run of the postseason
Vlad Jr. Makes History
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has been torturing the competition this postseason, added to his hot streak, socking his fifth home run of the playoffs in the seventh — a franchise record for most homers in a post-season (José Bautista did it five times in 2015).
The homer sojourned the Statcast-projected 359 feet out to right-center field and provided the Blue Jays another cushion. Guerrero also singled in the third inning, giving him 15 hits this postseason — making him only the fourth player in major league history with at least 15 hits and five home runs through his first eight games of a single postseason.
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Guerrero started the ALCS 0-for-7, and was a force since arriving in Seattle. He’s now 13-for-28 (. 464) with four home runs, 10 R.B.I.s and only one strikeout this postseason. Coach John Schneider had hoped the team might “get some slug in the air,” on the way to Seattle—and his superstar has not disappointed.
The Road Warrior Trend Continues
And one of the oddest story lines about it is that in this A.L.C.S., the visiting team has won every single game. The Mariners took the first two games at Rogers Centre in Toronto, and the Blue Jays have now won Games 3 and 4 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
This has happened in only two previous seven-game series: the 2023 A.L.C.S. and the 2019 World Series, Scherzer’s championship-winning trip to the title podium with Washington.
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What’s Next: A Pivotal Game 5
Game 5, on Friday night (6 p.m. ET.), suddenly will be absolutely crucial with the series tied at 2-2. The rigors of the East will only make it that much easier for the winner to dominate Golden State, which could take a 3-2 series lead, as well as all of the momentum and confidence, moving forward.
The Game 1 starters, Kevin Gausman for the Blue Jays and Bryce Miller for the Mariners, will square off again in the opener. T-Mobile Park will be rocking as these two teams look to take command of the series.
Key Takeaways
Scherzer’s Classic Performance: Scherzer, though he had not pitched in three weeks and stumbled to a 9.00 regular-season E.R.A. over his final six starts, demonstrated that playoff experience and championship pedigree count when the stakes get higher.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION The Blue Jays plated a combined 3 runs at home in Games 1 & 2.Upon arrival in Seattle, the floodgates opened: 21 runs. The lineup has jelled with contributions from stars and unexpected heroes.
Turning Point: The Blue Jays looked dead after losing the first two games at Rogers Centre. Now they have totally rewritten the script with two commanding wins on the road and head to Game 5 atop all of that momentum.
Will the road team streak continue, or will Seattle protect home court? Game 5 promises to be an instant classic as these evenly matched teams battle for survival in the ALCS.
