After exploding for 34 combined runs against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, the Toronto Blue Jays’ offence managed just one run in their return to the ALCS on Sunday.
For the first time since 2016, Rogers Centre played host to an ALCS showdown, featuring an electric sold-out crowd of over 40,000 fans — this time featuring the Blue Jays and Mariners, who last faced each other back in May. Both clubs look a lot different now than they did back then.
One of the biggest differences on Seattle’s side was Bryce Miller, who completely silenced Toronto’s offence — on three days of rest, no less. Last time these two sides met, the 27-year-old starter didn’t fare anywhere near as well, surrendering seven runs (all earned) on eight hits over five innings at T-Mobile Park on May 11.
But he was a different pitcher in Game 1. He gave up virtually nothing, at least after the first inning.
George Springer ambushed a first-pitch, 97.3-m.p.h. fastball from Miller, blasting an opposite-field leadoff home run — the first in franchise history — to spark a roaring home crowd. There weren’t many other jump-out-of-your-seat moments after that, though.
GEORGE SPRINGER HITS THE FIRST PITCH OVER THE WALL FOR A SOLO SHOT!
WHAT A START TO THE ALCS
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Anthony Santander turned on a high heater for a 100.1-m.p.h. single off Miller in the second, one of many encouraging at-bats from the recovering slugger this post-season. But the Blue Jays went four innings until their next baserunner reached safely via Addison Barger’s walk in the sixth, while going hitless the rest of the way.
Miller saved the Mariners in Game 1. They started this series with an exhausted staff after using seven pitchers — including three starters (George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo) — in their ALDS Game 5 marathon victory over the Detroit Tigers. So, by covering 18 of 27 outs, Seattle only needed to use four pitchers this time in Sunday’s 3-1 win.
Early on, with Miller’s pitch count at 27 through the first inning, there was a chance he wouldn’t be long for Game 1. Instead, he settled in and shut down a red-hot Blue Jays lineup — a feat not even the Yankees’ hurlers could accomplish in the previous round.
“Georgie [George Springer] gets it going first pitch and he [Bryce Miller] was good. He adjusted, threw a lot more splitters, sliders,” manager John Schneider said following his club’s Game 1 loss to Seattle.
To that end, Miller adjusted by keeping this Blue Jays’ offence off balance the rest of the way. Springer, for example, didn’t see another four-seamer for the rest of the night after homering off the lone one he took deep in the first.
Toronto’s bats did take some quality swings against Miller, though. They had a pair of 100 m.p.h.-plus lineouts in that opening frame, which could’ve knocked Seattle’s starter down to the mat. Instead, he settled in and found his groove in the innings that followed, paving a stress-free pathway to victory for a lockdown bullpen that includes Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont., native) and closer Andrés Muñoz.
“I thought we took some good swings, hit some balls at people a little bit, didn’t have a whole lot of batted ball luck, if you want to call it that, but he did a good job,” Schneider said. “This pitching staff has good stuff. He’s definitely one of them, and I think he did a good job of kind of flipping the script.”
It’s up to the Blue Jays to strike back with a strong blow of their own now. Earning home-field advantage was crucial for this team during the regular season, and they can’t afford to waste it with another flat performance in Game 2.
“This is going to be a hard-fought series, man. These guys will be ready for it. I’ve said it a million times. They’re going to be ready to play tomorrow.”
Handing rookie phenom Trey Yesavage the ball is a great start. He’ll be ready for the moment again. However, the offence also needs to find a way to score more than a single run of support.
They’ve been tremendous at crafting impressive responses following a heartfelt loss. Now they need to provide another to avoid entering a 2-0 series deficit against an evenly-matched opponent in the Mariners.
“We’re trying to figure out a way to win four, and I think Trey will be up for it tomorrow. I think our guys will be up for the challenge to kind of show what we’ve been doing all year offensively tomorrow, as well.”