They’re Alive! Blue Jays Walk-Off The Sox!

Remember, like, a week ago when 2-0 leads seemed insurmountable? When the idea of playing the Boston Red Sox six times over the span of 12 days was terrifying? When we genuinely thought all of the magic had been used up during last year’s run? Remember when 2016 was over in the middle of May? 

Neither do I. Because the it-isn’t-over-until-it’s-over pesky Blue Jays we all know and love from last season are back, and what else is there to say other than holy shit fuck yeah baseball!

I’ll give a bit of a recap for anybody who wasn’t able to watch this one, or for anybody who bailed too early. Marcus Stroman had a rough go, allowing seven runs on 11 hits in five-and-a-third innings. He did manage to strike out five, but a fair chunk of his outs came on excellent plays from the Jays’ infield, which obviously wasn’t a good sign in the early going. 

Anyways, the Red Sox held an 8-4 lead heading into the eighth. With Tommy Layne pitching, Michael Saunders was hit, then the iron-footed Justin Smoak hit an infield single (it was charged as an error to Xander Bogaerts) because Dustin Pedroia couldn’t keep his foot on the bag at second base. Runners on first and second with nobody out. Okay, score one or two here, make their relievers work for it, I guess. 

Layne was then replaced by Junichi Tazawa who promptly allowed an RBI single to Russell Martin. Immediately after, Devon Travis smacked a double down the left field line, scoring  Smoak. John Gibbons then use Jimmy Paredes to pinch hit for Darwin Barney, and Tazawa uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Martin to score. Holy shit, here we go. 

Peredes struck out, then Craig Kimbrel came in for the five out save with a two-run lead. Pillar in what might be the biggest mismatch imaginable swung through three fastballs. Then Jose Bautista came up to the plate and tied the game on a single to right field. Oh my god, oh man, holy fuck! 

But of course, since it’s the fucking Red Sox, and since Roberto Osuna wasn’t available to pitch, Gavin Floyd came in for the ninth and allowed a go-ahead solo shot to David Ortiz. It was a nice run, but oh well. 

Wait, hang the fuck on. We’re just getting started. Kimbrel came back out for the bottom of the ninth, and got Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders before Justin Smoak clubbed a two-out single to give the Jays some life. Zeke Carrera pinch ran, stole second and advanced to third on a garbage throw by catcher Christian Vasquez. No way. Not happening. Nuh-uh. 

Uhhhhhhh yeah! Russell Martin then hammered a double to the wall in left, scoring Carrera to tie the game AGAIN. Then, with Devon Travis batting and Kimbrel looking exhausted from doing that stupid stance for about half-an-hour, Martin advanced to third base on a wild pitch. With two strikes on him, Travis hit a sharp grounder past the bag at third, Martin charged home, Travis Shaw’s only play was first, but first baseman Hanley Ramirez couldn’t come up with it, and the JAYS WON THE FUCKING GAME ON A WALK OFF AHHHH!!!!

I don’t even know what to say! This game seemed like a total write off in, like, the fifth inning, but for the second night in a row, the bats climbed back into it in dramatic fashion. This is the team we were all expecting to see, and I’m damn thrilled that they’re back! 

Goddamit, I love games like this.