First, it was Adrian Beltre in the third. Then, it was Josh Donaldson in the fifth. Finally, it was Jose Bautista in the ninth. Those three superstars all left the Rangers’ 5-3 win over the Blue Jays in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday, and what we know about this series could be turned on its head.
David Price looked human for Toronto, perhaps the first time since his trade from the Tigers that he’s appeared anything but dominant. Price went seven for the Jays, but allowed five runs on five hits, walking a pair, plunking Rougned Odor twice, and striking out seven Texas hitters. His day began to go pear-shaped in the third inning, and both he and the Blue Jays never really recovered.
After a quiet first two innings for both sides, Price hit Odor to lead off the third. He moved up to second on a groundout by Robinson Chirinos, and scored on a Delino DeShields Jr. RBI single. DeShields then moved up to second on a groundout by Shin-Soo Choo, and *he* scored on a single by Beltre.
But Beltre aggravated his back on the single, and was replaced at third base by Hanser Alberto to start the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, the ball found Alberto twice in key situations. First, he double clutched on a ground ball hit by Jose Bautista with two on and one out, leading to Donaldson getting an accidental knee to the head from Odor during his attempt to turn the double play. The next batter was Edwin Encarnacion, who hit an infield dribbler to Alberto at third. He couldn’t make the barehanded play, allowing Ben Revere to score and cutting the Rangers’ lead to 2-1.
Texas wouldn’t let their lead stick at one for long. In the fifth, Price began the frame by hitting Odor *again*, and Chirinos followed up with a two-run homer to make it a 4-1 ballgame. But once again, the Blue Jays fought back. Russell Martin led off the bottom of the inning with a double, and after a Ryan Goins groundout moved Martin up to third, Kevin Pillar doubled to bring Toronto’s catcher home and make it 4-2. After Revere grounded out to move Pillar to third, Ezequiel Carrera pinch hit for an injured Donaldson and grounded out to end the threat. Who knows what would have happened if Donaldson was healthy and able to hit in that situation?
In the sixth, Bautista showed up to the game, smashing a solo homer off of Rangers reliever Keone Kela to slice the Texas lead back down to a run. But Price couldn’t keep the Rangers in check – instead of hitting Odor in his third plate appearance of the day, he gave up a laser of a solo homer, pushing the lead back up to two.
And really, that would do it for the Blue Jays. After Bautista’s homer, the Rangers bullpen allowed just one baserunner – a leadoff single by Edwin Encarnacion in the ninth. Jake Diekman set down six Toronto hitters in the row in the seventh and eighth, striking out one and needing just 16 pitches to get through the two innings.
The Texas Rangers should be absolutely thrilled with this victory. They took Game 1, on the road, with David Price on the hill, and *without* Cole Hamels starting – that’s extraordinary. Yovani Gallardo wasn’t stellar on Thursday, giving up two runs on four hits in five innings while walking one and striking out one, and Jeff Banister made sure to pull him before he faced Bautista and Encarnacion for a third time.
Game 2 will be at 12:45 PM Friday afternoon, and will pit Cole Hamels against Marcus Stroman. Calling a non-elimination game a must-win is a bit silly, but Toronto simply cannot head to Arlington down 2-0. If there’s good news for the Blue Jays, it’s this – Donaldson passed the concussion protocol, and Bautista’s injury was described as only a cramp. Both players are expected to play on Friday.
