The 7th inning of Game 5 of the ALDS between the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers Wednesday will go down as one of the most memorable six outs sports fans have seen.
The Blue Jays and Rangers were tied 2-2 entering the inning, with a spot in the ALCS on the line. First Texas took the lead on one of the most controversial and bizarre plays of the postseason after catcher Russell Martin’s throw back to the pitcher went off Shin Soo Choo’s bat, allowing Rougned Odor to score from third:
The controversial nature of the play — and the umpires’ decision to let the run stand making it 3-2 Texas — enraged the home crowd. Fans began littering the field in protest. Relief pitcher Brett Cecil was ejected from the contest for protesting the call.
After the play went in Texas’ favor, things weren’t looking good for the Jays, who were down 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, with just nine outs remaining in their season. But several gifts from Texas helped them pull through.
The Rangers made three consecutive errors to start the bottom of the seventh. Elvis Andrus couldn’t cleanly field a grounder to short to lead off the inning, allowing Martin to reach base. Then first baseman Mitch Moreland bounced a throw to second on what should have been a double play ball, giving Toronto runners on first and second with no outs. As if that weren’t enough, Andrus dropped a throw from Adrian Beltre on a force play at third after Beltre fielded a bunt. That gave the Jays bases loaded with nobody out. Texas finally got an out on a fielder’s choice, but then a run scored to tie the game on a second fielder’s choice.
And then with two outs, Jose Bautista delivered the knockout punch and a bat flip for the ages:
That gave Toronto a 6-3 lead and it sent Rogers Centre wild. Fans began throwing debris and other items all over the place, leading Edwin Encarnacion, who was up next, to quiet them down. Pitcher Sam Dyson, who allowed the homer, misinterpreted the gesture and started a fight with Encarnacion that led to the benches clearing.
After two more batters reached, Dyson finally got Troy Tulowitzki out to end the inning. But Dyson patted the shortstop on the rear as he exited the field, causing a response from Tulo and a second benches-clearing incident.
The inning took 53 minutes to be played, featured two lead changes and five runs scored. The Blue Jays lost all momentum, seemed frustrated, rallied back and then seized the lead for good on Bautista’s enormous home run. They should have incredible momentum going into the ALCS.
What an inning.
