TORONTO — Off the bat, Blue Jays proper fielder Addison Barger hoped to attain or least advance to 3rd base because the tying run. The one factor he did not anticipate was Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Enrique Hernandez catching a line drive off the bat of Andres Gimenez and doubling him off second base to finish Recreation 6 of the World Collection in favor the Dodgers on Friday evening.
Barger knew he had made a crucial mistake.
“I used to be fairly shocked he acquired to it,” Barger mentioned after the Dodgers’ dramatic 3-1 win to drive Recreation 7. “Off the bat, I believed it was going to go [right] over the shortstop’s head. I did not suppose it was going to journey that far.
“It was form of a foul learn.”
Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was watching all of it unfold from the bench.
“I believed it was getting down 1000 p.c,” he mentioned shaking his head.
Moments earlier, Barger had doubled off the left-center-field wall and saved working across the bases because the ball acquired lodged on the base of the wall. Hernandez and Dodgers centerfielder Justin Dean put up their palms to sign the ball was caught, resulting in left subject umpire John Tumpane ruling it a floor rule double.
Barger was despatched again to second whereas pinch runner Myles Straw, who had entered the sport after catcher Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch, was positioned on third.
Gimenez’s at-bat got here with the highest of the Blue Jays’ order due up subsequent — they by no means acquired an opportunity to bat. Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas made a pleasant decide of the throw from Hernandez as he stepped on second base, beautiful the house crowd.
“It is a robust learn,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “[Hernandez] taking part in shallow and one out, you are considering rating. He made a extremely good play. It is such a tweener. He made a superb play, good throw. Good play by Rojas, too. Wild.
“Wild technique to end it, for positive.”
That end means the Blue Jays will play one other Recreation 7 on Saturday, about 10 days after defeating the Seattle Mariners in a single to win the ALCS. This time there is a championship on the road.
“I do not suppose something can get this group rattled,” Kiner-Falefa mentioned. “Each time there’s a loss like this, you ask your self, ‘how are we going to return again?’ To have the chance to play a Recreation 7, in Toronto at dwelling, it is a dream come true.”
That was the sentiment all through the locker room after a second robust loss within the sequence. The Blue Jays had been additionally on the dropping finish of the marathon 18-inning affair in Recreation 3. They bounced again after that defeat, profitable Video games 4 and 5. Infielder Bo Bichette was requested what his feelings could be like on Saturday.
“I anticipate us doing the whole lot we are able to to win,” Bichette mentioned. “I am positive there might be a variety of adrenaline. We will present as much as win.”
Infielder Davis Schneider mentioned he has dreamed of being the hero in Recreation 7 of the World Collection since he was a child. He may get his likelihood on Saturday.
“I nonetheless do it to at the present time,” Schneider mentioned with a smile. “Within the cage. Recreation 7, recreation on the road. Hopefully it does not come to that. Hopefully we’re up 15-0.”
An early lead for 41-year-old Max Scherzer, who will begin Recreation 7 for the Jays, would undoubtedly convey the house crowd to its toes after they’d a quieter evening for many of Recreation 6. Scherzer may give technique to 22-year-old rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage, who mentioned he could be prepared for “something” after pitching a gem in Recreation 5.
The identical may very well be mentioned for your entire Blue Jays roster. They are not shocked they’re on this place — they’re merely grateful.
“Should you instructed us in spring coaching we had been going to have a Recreation 7, everybody right here would have signed up for it,” Kiner-Falefa mentioned. “From final place final 12 months to Recreation 7 of the World sequence. We’ll see what occurs.”