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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays blowout Mariners in Game 3 of ALCS to cut series lead in half

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That’s exactly what the Toronto Blue Jays needed.

On Wednesday evening, the Jays played Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, defeating the Seattle Mariners 13-4. The series now stands at 2-1 in favour of the Mariners, but let’s take a look at what went on in this game!

 

It didn’t start great for the Blue Jays. The first batter Shane Bieber faced walked, and after retiring Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez hit another first-inning homer, making it 2-0 with one swing of the bat.

Finally, the Blue Jays’ bats woke up. After Ernie Clement hit a lead-off double in the top of the third, Andrés Giménez hit a two-run home run to tie it. The Jays kept the pressure on, loading the bases for Daulton Varsho. A wild pitch gave the Jays a 3-2 lead, then Daulton Varsho hit a double to make it 5-2, the game-winning run.

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In the top of the fourth, George Springer gave the Blue Jays some breathing room thanks to a two-out solo home run to make it 6-2.

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The Jays’ home run parade continued in the top of the fifth, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a lead-off home run in the top of the fifth to make it 7-2. Clement drove in another run, swinging at a first-pitch cutter for an RBI single.

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In the top of the sixth, Nathan Lukes grounded out to bring in Giménez. Guerrero Jr. was intentionally walked, bringing up Alejandro Kirk. The Jays’ catcher went to the opposite field for his third home run of the postseason.

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The scoring ceased until the bottom of the eighth, as Randy Arozarena and Raleigh hit back-to-back home runs to make it 12-4. Addison Barger got his first hit of the series in the top of the ninth, hitting a solo home run.

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Takeaways…

The Blue Jays’ offence exploded in this game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entered the game 0-7 in the series, but ended up going 4-4 with a home run. George Springer and Andrés Giménez each had three hits with a home run, while Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement and Daulton Varsho had two hits. Addison Barger also registered his first hit of the series, his first career playoff home run.

After Shane Bieber allowed a two-run home run, you’d be forgiven for thinking, “Oh here we go again”. But he threw a scoreless second inning, the Jays’ offence did its thing, and he finished the game with a line of six innings pitched, four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts. That’s exactly what the Jays were expecting when they traded for him.

This was the first of three consecutive days with a game, and Bieber did a good job saving the Jays’ bullpen. Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless inning, Yariel Rodríguez allowed two solo home runs in his inning of work, and Mason Fluharty pitched a scoreless inning.

Rodríguez had another rough outing, making it two games in a row now. On Monday, he walked three consecutive batters before being pulled. In Wednesday’s game, he gave up back-to-back home runs. He may be lower in the circle of trust after these two games.

The Jays need just one more win to drag the Mariners back to Canada. Next up is a game on Thursday at 8:33 PM ET, with Max Scherzer on the mound for the Blue Jays. Luis Castillo is set to start for the Mariners.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.