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| George Springer hit a 3-run HR in a 4-3 comeback win over the Mariners to advance to their first world series since 1993 |
After a huge win yesterday, the Blue Jys were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and punch their ticket to the world series. Shane Bieber got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as yesterday's win. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and punch their ticket to the world series? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Josh Naylor singled scoring Julio Rodriguez
- The Blue Jays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning as Daulton Varsho singled scoring George Springer
- The Mariners retook the lead in the top of the 3rd as Rodriguez whacked a solo blast to left-center
- Shane Bieber pitching line: 3.2IP 7H 2R (both earned) 1BB 5K 74 pitches (44 for strikes)
- George Kirby pitching line: 4IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 3K 65 pitches (42 for strikes)
- The Mariners added a run in the top of the 5th as Cal Raleigh whacked a solo blast to right and into the Blue Jays bullpen
- The Blue Jaya took the lead in the bottom of the 7th as Springer belted a 3-run jack to left-center; also scoring Addison Barger and IKF
- Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect 9th for his 2nd save of the post-season.
- Final score: Blue Jays 4 Mariners 3
My Take
- Shane Bieber battled through 3.2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 5. Not an efficient game by any means, but the litmus test was alway going to be whether he was getting outs and keeping the score close. Unfortunately tonight, he didn't have the feel for the slider and his command wasn't there either.
- The bullpen held it together aand kept the score close, giving up a run on one hit, while walking 3 and striking out 4 over the last 5.1 innings. Louis Varland gave up a solo home run. Kevin Gausman, who walked 3 batters, was credited with the win. Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the 9th with his velo good in spite of 33 pitches thrown yesterday.
- George Springer provided the Kirk Gibson moment with a HUGE 3-run bomb in the 7th to give the Blue Jays the lead when it looked very much like they were going to fall short. Daulton Varsho drove in the other run to negate the opening inning run manufactured by the Mariners.
- Every starter had at least one hit. The hallmark of this team all season has been team efforts offensively. They are going to face a much stiffer test against the defending world series champs
- The Blue Jays were 2-6 with runners in scoring position
- The next few days are going to be very telling with respect to the world series roster. Bo Bichette is trying his darndest to make it back for the world series. It would likely be the last time with him in a Blue Jays uniform with Bichette set to hit free agency and cash in after a strong regular season. If Bichette is added to the world series roster, IKF would likely be the odd man out
- Could we see an encore of Max Scherzer vs. Clayton Kershaw in the world series. Both legends could call it a career after this season (Kershaw has already said he is done)
- There are going to be a lot of fans who were either not alive or are too young to remember one or both world series the Blue Jays one. Yours truly was only 9 years old when Joe Carter hit a walk-off home run to win the 1993 world series and I only remember Carter's home run because I called it while watching with my family. I remember my uncle thinking Darnell Cole, who was on deck would be the hero. I have no real recollection of the 1992 world series
- Up next, the world series against the defending champion LA Dodgers, who have been idle since last Friday after sweeping Milwaukee, who finished with the best record in the MLB. The Dodgers won the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-7. Neither team has set their rotation for the series, but expect Kevin Gausman to get the nod in game 1.
