The scene for the 2015 American League Championship Series shifted from Kansas City to Toronto Monday, with the Blue Jays looking to record their first win in the best-of-seven series.
Final score: Toronto 11, Kansas City 8
Go here for the full game recap.
Go here for photos from tonight’s game
What you need to know:
– 1-0 K.C.: A leadoff triple by Alcides Escobar led to a groundout RBI for Ben Zobrist in the top of the 1st inning.
– 3-1 Toronto: Ryan Goins, whose critical Game 2 mistake was the subject of much talk between games, drove in two runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Josh Donaldson added a third RBI.
Talk about redemption for Ryan Goins tonight.
— Rachel Brady (@RBradyGlobe) October 20, 2015– 3-2 Toronto: Eric Hosmer grounded into a fielder’s choice in the 3rd, and Ben Zobrist scored.
– 9-2 Toronto: Troy Tulowitzki sends the crowd into euphoria with a 3-run home run to deep centre in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Then, Kevin Pillar doubled to centre, scoring Russell Martin. It would be Johnny Cueto’s last pitch in the game as K.C. manager Ned Yost called upon his bullpen. After Kris Medlen came on in relief, the Jays added two more runs when Donaldson sent a long blast into the seats. Cueto’s line: 2.0 IP, 6 hits, 8 ER, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts.
Josh Donaldson with the 2nd-longest HR this postseason (Kyle Schwarber, 461 is longest) pic.twitter.com/PT4MR4EmiR
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 20, 2015– 9-4 Toronto: Kansas City’s Ben Zobrist added to his offensive output in the playoffs with a run-scoring double in the 5th, followed up by a Mike Moustakas single that cashed in Zobrist.
– 10-4 Toronto: Ryan Goins added a solo home run to his bounce-back game.
– Stroman out: After 6 1/3 innings, starter Marcus Stroman gave up a single to Eric Hosmer, ending his night. Aaron Sanchez took over. Stroman’s line: 6.1 IP, 11 hits, 4 ER, 1 walk, 1 strikeout.
– Tulowitzki ejected: Umpire John Hirschbeck threw the Blue Jays shortstop out of the game in the top of the 8th inning, after an argument over balls and strikes at the end of the 7th. Tulowitzki was replaced in the lineup by Cliff Pennington.
– 11-4 Toronto: Birthday boy Jose Bautista got his first hit of the night, scoring Ben Revere.
– 11-8 Toronto: Reliever Liam Hendriks gave up consecutive runs on a sacrifice fly and a single in the top of the 9th. Closer Roberto Osuna entered the game in his place. Then, with two strikes, designated hitter Kendrys Morales hit a two-run home run. But the Royals’ rally ultimately fell short. Blue Jays win.
And one young Tulo fan exploded with glee somewhere outside the Rogers Centre:
Guessing the winners:
Some Jays fans will have one eye on the federal election results tonight. We asked fans outside the stadium for their election predictions before game time.
A fan’s view from inside the stadium:
Off-the-charts bedlam in #SkyDome as #BlueJays take the lead! (And way more fun than #elxn42). #ALCS pic.twitter.com/x932ZYOipk
— Daniel Tisch APR (@DanTisch) October 20, 2015Things to note ahead of the game:
– Tonight’s starting pitchers: Johnny Cueto for Kansas City versus Marcus Stroman for Toronto. Here’s how they stack up:
– Jays closer Roberto Osuna told ESPN Monday that he's nursing an injury to the middle finger of his pitching hand, which could prevent him from thowing his strikeout pitch, the slider.
– Oct. 19 is Jose Bautista’s 35th birthday:
... and his cake was made by LeDolci in Toronto (photo via Facebook):
– Some facts about Rogers Centre, the venue for Games 3, 4 and 5, from Louis J. Spirito’s thirty81project.com:
– Here’s our game preview, focusing on Toronto’s Game 3 starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman
– Wherever you’re watching the game, and tonight’s federal election results, send us your photos on Twitter or Instagram using #GlobeJays
– For a fun activity to play while you watch the broadcast tonight, try Blue Jays Bingo. Generate a fresh card here, and challenge your friends: tgam.ca/bluejaysbingo