Jose Bautista waited his entire 12-year career for the moment, and the Toronto Blue Jays slugger delivered on the biggest stage.
With runners on the corners, Bautista hammered a three-run home run off Texas Rangers reliever Sam Dyson, propelling the Blue Jays to the eventual 6-3 win and advancing them to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1993.
After the Rangers plated the go-ahead run on a controversial call in the top of the seventh that led to the game being played under protest, the Blue Jays stormed back following three consecutive errors, setting the stage for Bautista's career-defining moment.
The Blue Jays become the third team since 1995 to come back from an 0-2 deficit at home to win the ALDS.
Top Performer: The longest tenured Blue Jay on the current roster, Bautista put the Rogers Centre in complete pandemonium with his three-run blast in the seventh. The emotional slugger uncorked a massive bat flip following the 431-foot shot and finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
Starting Pitchers: Toronto manager John Gibbons opted to go with Marcus Stroman in the final game of the series and the 24-year-old delivered. Stroman allowed two runs off six hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings, before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
| Player | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamels | 6.1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Stroman | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
The Rangers lost for the first time in 12 starts made by Cole Hamels, though the left-hander was hardly to blame. Hamels allowed five runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings, while striking out eight. The Texas starter induced three straight ground balls in the seventh that his defense committed errors on, propelling the inning and eventually resulting in the Bautista home run off Dyson.
Turning Point: With Rougned Odor at third base and two outs, Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin's throw back to the mound hit the hand of batter Shin-Soo Choo, allowing Odor to come home as the ball rolled on the field. Fans pelted the field with debris during the 18-minute delay. Toronto used the play as a rallying point, as Gibbons said following the game the moment "pissed them off" and set the stage for the comeback.
Up Next: The Rangers season is over while the Blue Jays will travel to face the Kansas City Royals on the road Friday in Game 1 of the ALCS.
