Amidst the chaos and calamity of the Toronto Blue Jays’ high-stakes, high-pressure 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the ALDS was the calming presence of three young pitchers.
Marcus Stroman, who started the game, wasn’t even supposed to be there.
The 24-year-old tore his ACL back in May and was deemed done for the season. He worked his ass off in recovery, putting his “Height Doesn’t Measure Heart” moniker to use, and despite doctors telling him he wouldn’t pitch again, he was back in September. Tuesday in Toronto, he pitched another huge game, his second playoff start in less than a week, and delivered in the most important start of his career. Stroman went six innings, giving up two runs, while striking out four batters. He didn’t earn the victory, but without his energetic, clutch performance, the Blue Jays’ season might be over.
They said it wasn't possible. Little did they know. Back with the boys and we're hungry for more! @BlueJays #HDMH pic.twitter.com/QyXku1DFiR
— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) October 15, 2015
Coming in following Stroman was 23-year-old reliever Aaron Sanchez. He came in throwing 100 MPH gas, and initially allowed a single to the pesky Rougned Odor. Two outs later, with Odor on third, perhaps the strangest play in Blue Jays history occurred. Catcher Russell Martin was throwing a pitch back to Sanchez, when it hit Sin Soo-Choo’s bat in the batter’s box, deflecting the ball and scoring Odor.
The play gave the Rangers a lead and could have shaken Sanchez, but the Barstow, Calif. native, didn’t let it, as he came back to the mound after a delay (the entire seventh inning lasted a whopping 54 minutes) and struck out Choo to end the inning. The Blue Jays would score four runs in the bottom of the inning to earn Sanchez the W. He pitched the eighth inning, earning one more out and allowing two base-runners, which set the stage for Roberto Osuna.
The 20-year-old Osuna was called into the biggest game of his life to face Josh Hamilton. Hamilton, a lefty, would have likely faced another left-hander in the situation, but with David Price pitching three innings on Tuesday, Aaron Loup dealing with a personal issue, and Brett Cecil tearing his calf, the Blue Jays had no one else to call to in the pen. Osuna would need to get five outs to earn the save.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 18: Roberto Osuna #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 18, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Blue Jays won 8-5. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
The youngest player in MLB went on cruise control, striking out Hamilton and three others, getting all five outs relatively quickly. Osuna did what he’s done all season, made things look easy, despite having very little pro baseball experience. He pitched like a seasoned veteran, despite not being legal age to drink yet in the U.S — thank God he lives in Canada — because he earned one.
It’s easy to talk about the big boppers for the Blue Jays — I mean, Jose Bautista’s bat flip was baseball perfection. But when looking back at what won the franchise’s most important game in 22 years, it’s the performance of their young pitchers that gave them a pulse. Stroman, Sanchez and Osuna pitched their asses off when it mattered most, and the Blue Jays are going to the ALCS because of them.
