Josh Donaldson’s Dash Propels Blue Jays Into ALCS With 7-6 Win Over Rangers

Josh Donaldson raced home from second base after an errant throw by Rougned Odor in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a thrilling, 7-6 home victory over the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the AL Division Series on Sunday night, thus completing a sweep.

Josh Donaldson’s Dash Propels Blue Jays Into ALCS With 7-6 Win Over Rangers

The Blue Jays will next play Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night in Boston or Cleveland (time TBD). The Indians lead that series 2-0, with Game 3 scheduled for Monday following a postponement Sunday.

Toronto had runners on first and second base when Russell Martin hit a grounder to the gap between shortstop and third base. Elvis Andrus got the out at second, but Odor’s relay throw to first escaped Mitch Moreland, and Donaldson– the reigning AL MVP– beat the first baseman’s throw to home plate with a headfirst dive.

“Well it was 3-2 and Russell was taking some pretty big swings,” said Donaldson. “I was expecting contact right there. I was able to get a pretty good secondary [lead]. I was at third base when the throw was being made. Once I saw him miss the pick, I felt I had a chance right there, and fortunately for us, I was able to make it.”

Donaldson led off the 10th with a double into the right-center field gap and Matt Bush intentionally walked Edwin Encarnacion. The umpires reviewed whether Encarnacion’s slide into second was legal, but the ruling on the field was confirmed and no interference was called.

“It was crazy,” Martin said. “That’s the best ground ball to short I’ve ever had, I think.”

Encarnacion and Martin scored first-inning homers, while right-hander Aaron Sanchez did not factor into the decision after he was charged with six runs on three hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings. The bullpen took it from there, with 4 1/3 scoreless frames.

Odor’s night came to an end in a devastating way, although he earlier hit a two-run homer scored a pair of runs. Andrus also went deep for Texas and Moreland added two RBIs with a go-ahead double in the sixth inning. Rangers righty Colby Lewis did not take a decision after he allowed five runs on five hits over two-plus innings. The loss went to Bush, who threw two scoreless innings before the decisive 10th.

“It’s our belief that any time you enter Spring Training, it’s one mission, and that’s to win and play for the opportunity to win the World Series,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “That’s been our mission all along. It’s disappointing in a sense we’re not going to continue to play. But I’m most proud of how our guys continued to battle.”

Encarnacion helped set up Donaldson’s wild dash by reaching second base in 3.55 seconds, which forced Odor his throw to first. According to Statcast™, that was Encarnacion’s fastest first-to-second time on a force-out or double play all season, topping his previous best of 3.81 seconds. Donaldson topped out at 19.5 mph, which was faster than any speed he clocked in the last two weeks of the regular season after missing three games with a sore hip.

“When you have 50,000 fans screaming, it kind of numbs the pain a little bit,” said Donaldson, who is still bothered by the sore hip. “It gives you that little extra bolt of adrenaline. … The fact of the matter is I want to be out there for my team, my teammates want me out there and I want to contribute in any way possible.”

The Rangers had a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth before a one-out single by Troy Tulowitzki, a double by Melvin Upton Jr. and an intentional walk to Kevin Pillar loaded the bases. Reliever Keone Kela got Darwin Barney to pop out, but his first pitch to Ezequiel Carrera got away from catcher Jonathan Lucroy for a passed ball to tie the game. Kela retired Carrera on a flyout to right to end the inning.

“We all expected to compete better than this,” Lucroy said post-game. “It’s very disappointing.”

The Rangers will next open the 2017 season against the Indians on April 3 at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 09: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays races home to score the game-winning run in the tenth inning during MLB game action against the Texas Rangers in game three of the American League Divison Series at Rogers Centre on October 9, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)