ALDS Game 2: Toronto powers past Texas for 2-0 series lead
By Maher Ayoub
After a blowout win in the first game of the series, the Toronto Blue Jays continued their success against the Texas Rangers with a 5-3 win in game 2.
The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t have to wait long to feel confident about their ALDS series against their most recent bitter rivals. The Blue Jays squeaked into the American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers in walk-off fashion against the Baltimore Orioles. On Thursday, Blue Jays hitters pummeled Texas Rangers ace Cole Hamels for seven runs and took Game 1 in blowout fashion 10-1. Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada went 8.1 innings while allowing only four hits.
On Friday afternoon, the two teams met again and Toronto got off to yet another great start. After Jose Bautista walked to lead off the top of the 2nd inning, Troy Tulowitzki crushed a two-run home run to left center off of Yu Darvish to give the Blue Jays an early 2-0 lead. Darvish struggled to find his location early in the game, and the Blue Jays continued to capitalize.
After a RBI single by Ian Desmond in the bottom of the 4th inning cut the Rangers deficit in half, the Blue Jays came back with the big bats. In the top of the 5th, the Toronto line up hit 3 solo home runs to move their lead to 5-1. Kevin Pillar led off the inning with a solo home run to left, then Ezequiel Herrera and Wild Card hero Edwin Encarnacion followed with solo home runs for themselves.
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Darvish was eventually able to make it out of the 5th but was pulled before he ever got a chance to pitch the 6th inning. He was done after five innings after giving up five runs on five hits, including the four home runs. Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ wasn’t much more effective, giving up nine hits in five innings himself. The only glaring difference being Happ only giving up one earned run.
Texas was able to hold the score at 5-1 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. That’s where their offense showed some life. Mitch Moreland came in to pinch hit and led the inning off with a double. After a fly out by Elvis Andrus, Robinson Chirinos walked and gave a chance to MLB vet and Rangers newcomer Carlos Gomez to bring Texas a little closer. Gomez singled to center to plate Moreland, and the Rangers looked to be in business with two men on with 1 out.
That’s the point where the Blue Jays and manager John Gibbons decided to put in their young closer Roberto Osuna to secure a five-out save. Osuna got Desmond to ground out to the shortstop, but another run was scored for Texas to bring the score to 5-2. Now with two outs in the inning, Osuna snuck a pitch past Carlos Beltran to strike him out swinging.
The score remained the same going into the bottom of the 9th, and things looked to be off to a great start for the home team. Adrian Beltre hit a leadoff double to deep left and a big inning looked eminent. Osuna went on to strike out Roughned Odor, and force two pop outs to secure the win.
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The Blue Jays take game two of their series against the Rangers 5-2. They sweep Texas at home and now have a commanding 2-0 lead going back to Toronto.
Game 3 of the American League Division series starts Sunday, October 9, 6:38 PM on TBS.