TORONTO - The Blue Jays nearly threw away Game 5 of the AL Division Series with a bizarre blunder by catcher Russell Martin before rallying in a nearly hour-long seventh inning.

Fans littered the field with debris during an 18-minute delay after Martin hit Texas batter Shin-Soo Choo with his seemingly simple return throw to the pitcher that resulted in a run for the Rangers after several conferences and an umpire's review. The Blue Jays even said they were playing the game under protest.

Toronto rallied in the 53-minute seventh for a 6-3 victory to advance to the Championship Series, but not before having to recoup after crazy top half of the inning.

''It was just a shame that might have been the difference in a game of this magnitude,'' Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ''Thank God it didn't come down to that.''

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

With Rougned Odor at third base and two outs in the top of the seventh, Martin's throw back to the mound hit Choo, allowing Odor to sprint home as the ball rolled up the third base line for a 3-2 lead.

''I understand the fans are upset,'' Choo said. ''I understand their reaction.''

Home plate umpire Dale Scott initially ruled it a dead ball but, after Rangers manager Jeff Banister came out, the umpires huddled and Odor was sent home.

Scott acknowledged making a mistake with his initial ruling.

''I was mixing up two rules,'' Scott told a pool reporter. ''I called time but then it started clicking. I went, `Wait a minute, wait a minute, there's no intent on the hitter.' If there's no intent, if he's not out of the box, that throw is live.''

Scott said the play itself is not reviewable, explaining that the umpires were reviewing the rule, not the play, when they went to the video.

According to rule Major League Baseball rule 6.03(a)(3), the batter is not to be charged with interfering with the catcher if the batter is still in the batter's box and doesn't make a movement to block or disrupt the throw.

- With files from theScore