Sam Dyson's highly anticipated return to Toronto ended in anticlimactic fashion Monday, but boy was the lead up ever intense.
Dyson, the Texas Rangers reliever who surrendered Jose Bautista's go-ahead homer - and subsequent bat flip - in last year's epic Game 5 of the American League Division Series, sought revenge Monday during a high-leverage showdown with the Toronto Blue Jays slugger.
With runners on first and second and nobody out in the eighth, and the Rangers clinging to a 2-1 lead, Dyson ended the tense four-pitch at-bat by inducing a line out from Bautista to stall Toronto's rally. Dyson, who was booed lustily prior to taking the mound, escaped the jam after rookie standout Nomar Mazara completed a spectacular inning-ending double play.
Dyson was critical of Bautista's Game 5 celebration last October, telling reporters after the game that "Jose needs to calm that down," and "respect the game a little more."