ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals are heading to deciding Game 5s in their American League Division Series after crucial wins Monday.
Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello hit home runs in the Blue Jays’ 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers on to send the series back to Toronto.
Game 5 is Wednesday when Cole Hamels starts for the Rangers against Marcus Stroman in a rematch from Game 2, which Texas won in 14 innings.
In Houston, the defending AL champion Royals rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Houston Astros 9-6.
The 40-year-old R.A. Dickey, the 2012 National League Cy Young pitching award winner, allowed one run over 4 2-3 innings and was pulled with a 7-1 lead and a runner on base. 2012 AL Cy Young winner David Price took over and pitched three innings, getting the win after losing in the opener.
After losing the first two games in the series at home, the Blue Jays won both games in Texas in a span of 24 hours.
Kevin Pillar also connected as three of the first eight Toronto hitters homered off Derek Holland, in his first postseason start since 8 1-3 scoreless innings against St. Louis in Game 4 of the 2011 World Series.
Only two teams in MLB history have lost a best-of-five series after winning the first two games on the road – Oakland against the New York Yankees in 2001, and Cincinnati to San Francisco in 2012.
The Blue Jays, in the playoffs for the first time since their 1993 World Series championship, have won nine of their last 10 postseason road games. Texas dropped to 1-9 in division series games at home.
The Royals took advantage when Astros shortstop Carlos Correa couldn’t handle a deflected grounder that might have been a double-play ball.
Correa homered twice, doubled, singled and drove in four runs in Game 4. Houston took a 6-2 lead into the eighth, but a tough error charged to the 21-year-old rookie keyed the Royals’ comeback to even the matchup at two games apiece.
Game 5 will be back in Kansas City on Wednesday night. Johnny Cueto is set to start for the Royals against Collin McHugh.
Add A Comment