TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson's mad dash moved the Blue Jays into the next round of the playoffs.
Donaldson raced home from second base after Rougned Odor bounced a double-play relay in the 10th inning and Toronto beat the Texas Rangers 7-6 on Sunday night to sweep their AL Division Series.
Donaldson, the reigning AL MVP, led off the 10th with a double into the right-center field gap and Matt Bush intentionally walked Edwin Encarnacion.
After Jose Bautista struck out, Russell Martin hit a grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who tried to start a double play with a feed to second base. After making the turn, second baseman Odor short-hopped his throw to first baseman Mitch Moreland and the ball skipped away, allowing Donaldson to sprint home and beat Moreland's throw with a dive across the plate.
"I was at third base when the throw was being made," Donaldson said. "Once I saw (Moreland) miss the pick, I felt like I had to take a chance right there."
The wild-card Blue Jays are headed back to the AL Championship Series after beating Texas in an ALDS for a second straight year and will face the winner of the Cleveland-Boston series. The Indians lead 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for Monday following a postponement Sunday.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, who spent 24 years with Cleveland before joining Toronto last fall, said he'd already reached out to one former Indians colleague about a potential ALCS meeting.
"It's something I've tried not to think about," Shapiro said, "but I texted (Indians GM) Chris Antonetti a two-word text about 10 minutes ago: Your turn."
Toronto's bench emptied and swarmed around Donaldson near home plate after his dramatic dash, while Bush kneeled in the infield and watched the celebration. The umpires huddled to review the play at second base, but after a brief delay, the crowd of 49,555 went wild as crew chief Joe West signaled the run counted.
"You're like `Oh gosh, let's not have a technicality ruin this moment for us right here," Martin said. "It was a little bit of a buzzkill at the time."
Donaldson had two doubles among his three hits and is batting .538 through four postseason games, all wins for the Blue Jays, who had to beat Baltimore in a wild-card game to get to the ALDS.
"We definitely feel good about where we're at," Donaldson said. "We're pitching well, we're playing good defense and right now we've been able to hit the homer. That's a big positive for our offense."
The Blue Jays now get four days off before the ALCS begins Friday, and they're happy to get it.
"Some people like to say a couple of days off might throw our timing off," Martin said. "I really don't believe in that. At this point in the year, a couple of days off can do wonders."
Bautista's homer and emphatic bat flip in Game 5 was the lasting image from Toronto's ALDS win over the Rangers last season. On May 15, Odor famously punched Bautista to spark a brawl in Texas, and the broadcast of Sunday's game showed a fan-made sign declaring "I would rather get punched in May than get knocked out in October."
Bush had thrown two scoreless innings in relief prior to beginning the 10th. It was the longest career outing for the 30-year-old rookie, who was crucial in the bullpen while Texas finished with the AL's best record.
Closer Roberto Osuna threw two perfect innings to get the win. His appearance capped 4 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball by Toronto's bullpen after starter Aaron Sanchez allowed six runs.
Encarnacion had a two-run homer and Martin a solo shot in the first inning for Toronto, which swept a postseason series for the first time.
"Unfortunately we didn't click at the right time," Andrus said. "They hit the ball well and never let us feel comfortable."
Andrus hit a solo homer in the third and Odor added a two-run shot in the fourth. They were the only two homers of the series for Texas.
"We got cold at the worst moment," Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre said.
Moreland gave Texas a 6-5 lead with a two-run double off Joe Biagini in the sixth, but Toronto responded in the bottom half when Troy Tulowitzki scored on Jonathan Lucroy's bases-loaded passed ball.
Colby Lewis allowed five runs in two innings for Texas.
Texas has lost six straight postseason games, all to Toronto. The Rangers hadn't lost on a game-ending play since June 30 against the Yankees.
SELECT COMPANY
Encarnacion has four career home runs, the second-highest total in Blue Jays history. Bautista and Joe Carter each have six.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (right knee) sat out his second straight game but was available off the bench. Travis, who was scratched from the lineup Friday, had a cortisone shot Saturday. ... LHP Francisco Liriano (concussion) exited the ballpark several hours before the game because he wasn't feeling well.
Donaldson raced home from second base after Rougned Odor bounced a double-play relay in the 10th inning and Toronto beat the Texas Rangers 7-6 on Sunday night to sweep their AL Division Series.
Donaldson, the reigning AL MVP, led off the 10th with a double into the right-center field gap and Matt Bush intentionally walked Edwin Encarnacion.
After Jose Bautista struck out, Russell Martin hit a grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who tried to start a double play with a feed to second base. After making the turn, second baseman Odor short-hopped his throw to first baseman Mitch Moreland and the ball skipped away, allowing Donaldson to sprint home and beat Moreland's throw with a dive across the plate.
"I was at third base when the throw was being made," Donaldson said. "Once I saw (Moreland) miss the pick, I felt like I had to take a chance right there."
The wild-card Blue Jays are headed back to the AL Championship Series after beating Texas in an ALDS for a second straight year and will face the winner of the Cleveland-Boston series. The Indians lead 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for Monday following a postponement Sunday.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro, who spent 24 years with Cleveland before joining Toronto last fall, said he'd already reached out to one former Indians colleague about a potential ALCS meeting.
"It's something I've tried not to think about," Shapiro said, "but I texted (Indians GM) Chris Antonetti a two-word text about 10 minutes ago: Your turn."
Toronto's bench emptied and swarmed around Donaldson near home plate after his dramatic dash, while Bush kneeled in the infield and watched the celebration. The umpires huddled to review the play at second base, but after a brief delay, the crowd of 49,555 went wild as crew chief Joe West signaled the run counted.
"You're like `Oh gosh, let's not have a technicality ruin this moment for us right here," Martin said. "It was a little bit of a buzzkill at the time."
Donaldson had two doubles among his three hits and is batting .538 through four postseason games, all wins for the Blue Jays, who had to beat Baltimore in a wild-card game to get to the ALDS.
"We definitely feel good about where we're at," Donaldson said. "We're pitching well, we're playing good defense and right now we've been able to hit the homer. That's a big positive for our offense."
The Blue Jays now get four days off before the ALCS begins Friday, and they're happy to get it.
"Some people like to say a couple of days off might throw our timing off," Martin said. "I really don't believe in that. At this point in the year, a couple of days off can do wonders."
Bautista's homer and emphatic bat flip in Game 5 was the lasting image from Toronto's ALDS win over the Rangers last season. On May 15, Odor famously punched Bautista to spark a brawl in Texas, and the broadcast of Sunday's game showed a fan-made sign declaring "I would rather get punched in May than get knocked out in October."
Bush had thrown two scoreless innings in relief prior to beginning the 10th. It was the longest career outing for the 30-year-old rookie, who was crucial in the bullpen while Texas finished with the AL's best record.
Closer Roberto Osuna threw two perfect innings to get the win. His appearance capped 4 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball by Toronto's bullpen after starter Aaron Sanchez allowed six runs.
Encarnacion had a two-run homer and Martin a solo shot in the first inning for Toronto, which swept a postseason series for the first time.
"Unfortunately we didn't click at the right time," Andrus said. "They hit the ball well and never let us feel comfortable."
Andrus hit a solo homer in the third and Odor added a two-run shot in the fourth. They were the only two homers of the series for Texas.
"We got cold at the worst moment," Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre said.
Moreland gave Texas a 6-5 lead with a two-run double off Joe Biagini in the sixth, but Toronto responded in the bottom half when Troy Tulowitzki scored on Jonathan Lucroy's bases-loaded passed ball.
Colby Lewis allowed five runs in two innings for Texas.
Texas has lost six straight postseason games, all to Toronto. The Rangers hadn't lost on a game-ending play since June 30 against the Yankees.
SELECT COMPANY
Encarnacion has four career home runs, the second-highest total in Blue Jays history. Bautista and Joe Carter each have six.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (right knee) sat out his second straight game but was available off the bench. Travis, who was scratched from the lineup Friday, had a cortisone shot Saturday. ... LHP Francisco Liriano (concussion) exited the ballpark several hours before the game because he wasn't feeling well.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Texas - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Gómez walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Gómez stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond grounded out to catcher, Gómez to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán grounded out to first, Gómez scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Beltré flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Colby Lewis pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Carrera singled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Donaldson struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Encarnación homered to left (412 feet), Carrera scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Bautista struck out looking. | 1 | 2 |
| Martin homered to left center (392 feet). | 1 | 3 |
| Tulowitzki flied out to right. | 1 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Odor grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Lucroy grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 3 |
| Moreland struck out swinging. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Colby Lewis pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Saunders flied out to left. | 1 | 3 |
| Pillar flied out to center. | 1 | 3 |
| Barney grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Andrus homered to left center (415 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Mazara flied out to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Gómez grounded out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Colby Lewis pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Carrera singled to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Carrera stole second. | 2 | 3 |
| Donaldson hit a ground rule double to right, Carrera scored. | 2 | 4 |
| Barnette relieved Lewis. | 2 | 4 |
| Encarnación singled to center, Donaldson scored. | 2 | 5 |
| Bautista flied out to center. | 2 | 5 |
| Martin grounded into fielder's choice to third, Encarnación out at second. | 2 | 5 |
| Tulowitzki grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Martin out at second. | 2 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Beltrán walked. | 2 | 5 |
| Beltré grounded into fielder's choice to second, Beltrán out at second. | 2 | 5 |
| Odor homered to center (424 feet), Beltré scored. | 4 | 5 |
| Lucroy lined out to right. | 4 | 5 |
| Moreland walked. | 4 | 5 |
| Andrus flied out to left. | 4 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Claudio pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Claudio relieved Barnette. | 4 | 5 |
| Saunders walked. | 4 | 5 |
| Pillar grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Saunders out at second. | 4 | 5 |
| Barney grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Pillar out at second. | 4 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Mazara struck out swinging. | 4 | 5 |
| Gómez struck out swinging. | 4 | 5 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 4 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Claudio pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Carrera grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 5 |
| Donaldson singled to right. | 4 | 5 |
| Jeffress relieved Claudio. | 4 | 5 |
| Encarnación walked, Donaldson to second. | 4 | 5 |
| Bautista grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Encarnación out at second. | 4 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Sanchez pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Beltrán grounded out to third. | 4 | 5 |
| Beltré fouled out to first. | 4 | 5 |
| Odor walked. | 4 | 5 |
| Lucroy singled to left, Odor to second. | 4 | 5 |
| Biagini relieved Sanchez. | 4 | 5 |
| Moreland doubled to deep left center, Odor and Lucroy scored. | 6 | 5 |
| Andrus lined out to center. | 6 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jeremy Jeffress pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Martin struck out looking. | 6 | 5 |
| Tulowitzki singled to right. | 6 | 5 |
| Diekman relieved Jeffress. | 6 | 5 |
| Upton Jr. hit for Saunders. | 6 | 5 |
| Upton Jr. doubled to left, Tulowitzki to third. | 6 | 5 |
| Pillar intentionally walked. | 6 | 5 |
| Kela relieved Diekman. | 6 | 5 |
| Barney fouled out to third. | 6 | 5 |
| Tulowitzki scored, Upton Jr. to third, Pillar to second on passed ball by Lucroy. | 6 | 6 |
| Carrera lined out to right. | 6 | 6 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Joe Biagini pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Mazara struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Gómez grounded out to third. | 6 | 6 |
| Desmond grounded out to pitcher. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Keone Kela pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Hoying in right field. | 6 | 6 |
| Donaldson struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Encarnación flied out to right. | 6 | 6 |
| Bautista popped out to first. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jason Grilli pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Grilli relieved Biagini. | 6 | 6 |
| Beltrán fouled out to third. | 6 | 6 |
| Beltré struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Cecil relieved Grilli. | 6 | 6 |
| Odor popped out to third. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Matt Bush pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Bush relieved Kela. | 6 | 6 |
| Martin struck out looking. | 6 | 6 |
| Tulowitzki struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Upton Jr. struck out looking. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Roberto Osuna pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Osuna relieved Cecil. | 6 | 6 |
| Lucroy fouled out to catcher. | 6 | 6 |
| Moreland grounded out to second. | 6 | 6 |
| Andrus fouled out to third. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Matt Bush pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Pillar struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Barney flied out to left. | 6 | 6 |
| Carrera popped out to shortstop. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Texas - Top of 10th | SCORE | |
| Roberto Osuna pitching for Toronto | TEX | TOR |
| Hoying struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Gómez struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Desmond flied out to center. | 6 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Toronto - Bottom of 10th | SCORE | |
| Matt Bush pitching for Texas | TEX | TOR |
| Donaldson doubled to deep right. | 6 | 6 |
| Encarnación intentionally walked. | 6 | 6 |
| Bautista struck out swinging. | 6 | 6 |
| Martin grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Encarnación out at second, Donaldson to third, Donaldson scored on throwing error by second baseman Odor. | 6 | 7 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
Coverage: TBS
7:30 PM ET, October 9, 2016
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Game Information
| Stadium | Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON |
| Attendance | 49,555 (100.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:21 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Sam Holbrook, First Base - Hunter Wendelstedt, Second Base - Joe West, Third Base - Cory Blaser, Left Field - Chad Fairchild, Right Field - Lance Barksdale |
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