PHOTOS: Reliving one of the craziest innings in playoff history
The Toronto Blue Jays clinched their long-awaited return to the American League Championship Series on Wednesday with a thrilling 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers.
Though the five-game battle will be remembered as one of the most captivating division series in recent memory, it's the seventh inning of Game 5 that's sure to remain among the craziest innings in playoff history. Here's a brief snapshot in pictures of how the chaos unfolded in the unprecedented 53-minute frame, which began with the game tied 2-2.
The seventh started innocently enough, with Josh Donaldson making what might have been the best defensive play of the game on a tricky bouncer to get the speedy Delino DeShields for the second out of the inning.
Things quickly went from nail-biting to bizarre when Russell Martin's throw back to Aaron Sanchez hit Shin-Soo Choo's bat and trickled into the field of play. Rougned Odor scampered home with the go-ahead run on one of the most controversial plays in baseball history.
Toronto argued that the play should have been dead, while Texas petitioned for unintentional interference. The Rangers were awarded the run after multiple reviews during a hostile 18-minute delay at Rogers Centre. Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle was ejected during the melee.
The scene turned ugly in Toronto when fans began littering the field with beer cans and garbage. The Blue Jays PA announcer later said he was on the cusp of issuing a warning to the crowd that Toronto was at risk of forfeiting the playoff game because of the unrest. Toronto informed the umpiring crew that Game 5 was being played under protest.
How quickly things change. The Blue Jays tied up the game in the bottom half after three consecutive errors by the Rangers, setting the stage for the most dramatic Blue Jays home run in 22 years.
Jose Bautista's majestic blast and epic bat flip electrified the Blue Jays and their fans, and gave Toronto a commanding 6-3 lead in the clincher.
Between Bautista's theatrics and Toronto's rowdy fans, words ensued between Edwin Encarnacion and home run-victim Sam Dyson. Both benches cleared and Game 5 officially entered the twilight zone.
Tensions continued into the end of the inning after Dyson and Troy Tulowitzki exchanged unpleasantries following the shortstop's fly out.
Cooler heads would prevail behind the backdrop of a sea of law enforcement at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays escaped the crazy seventh with a 6-3 lead and their eventual ticket to the ALCS.
The rest is playoff history.