Goins rebounds from misplay to star in Blue Jays' victory

Two days after owning up to a critical misplay in Toronto's Game 2 loss, Ryan Goins let his play do the talking. And just like that, it's a series.

Goins starred on both sides of the diamond in Toronto's 11-8 victory over Kansas City on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a homer and making several terrific defense plays as the Blue Jays cut the series deficit to 2-1.

Less than 48 hours after his misplay dominated the headlines, Goins was back in the spotlight Monday for all the right reasons.

"He's a special player, obviously, gives everything he's got," Tulowitzki said about Goins after the game. "And like I said, I couldn't be happier after that game, even though I didn't think it was a big deal. I think everybody in that locker room had his back. But for tonight him to be putting together the at-bats he did, play the great defense, he deserved it, because he didn't put his head down. He focused on the next game and that's what you do."

The Blue Jays second baseman staked his team to an early lead with his two-run single in the second, before going deep for the first time since Sept. 1 with a solo homer off Kris Medlen in the fifth.

Goins' success at the plate followed him into the field with a series of spectacular plays at second to keep extra Royals runners off the bases. Despite his big effort, Goins insisted he wasn't trying to make up for the previous game.

"There's no need to put any extra pressure on yourself," he said. "Just come out and do what I've been doing all season, whatever I can do to help this team win is what I'm going to do."

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

Goins said his teammates and family members helped him get over Sunday's forgettable play, but manager John Gibbons told reporters that his big Game 3 was the best thing that could have happened to him.

"It was really the perfect game for him," he said.