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Worse yet: Blue Jays midfielder George Springer is swept away after terrifying clash with Bo Bichette, leading to Mariners comeback win and shattering season end in Toronto
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On the eve of their wildcard series with the Mariners in Toronto on Saturday, the Blue Jays instead suffered a devastating season-end loss after center fielder George Springer collided with short stop Bo Bichette in the eighth inning, leaving Seattle was able to even the game.
Seattle went on to win 10-9 on an Adam Frazier double in ninth catcher Cal Raleigh scored. The Mariners had fallen seven points behind earlier in the game.
With two outs and the bases loaded, JP Crawford hit a blooper in the shallow midfield. Springer and Bichette went after the ball hard, but it ended up when the two collided. All three runners scored on the double to tie the score at 9.
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) and center fielder George Springer (4) collide while trying to catch a three-RBI double on the bat of Seattle Mariners shortstop JP Crawford
George Springer leaves the field on a cart after being injured in a collision with SS Bo Bichette
George Springer #4 of the Blue Jays is helped to the cart after a collision with Bo Bichette
It seemed as if Bichette’s right arm hit Springer on the forehead. Bichette got up fairly quickly and stayed in the game after being checked by a trainer. A dizzy Springer was helped to his feet as the cart was wheeled onto the field.
Springer, 33, a four-time All-Star, cheered on the cheering crowd as the car left the field.
It was the biggest comeback road win in playoff history and baseball’s biggest comeback win in a postseason series. The next step for resilient Seattle is Houston in the AL Division Series.
Seattle made the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2001, trailing 8-1 to five innings, but made it 9 with four runs in the eighth.
Seattle Mariners celebrate after defeating Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Center
Julio Rodriguez #44 and JP Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate Adam Frazier #26 RBI double to take the lead against the Toronto Blue Jays
Justin Verlander starts Game 1 of the American League Division Series for the Astros on Tuesday.
It was a foregone conclusion that the AL Cy Young Award frontrunner would start that match, and manager Dusty Baker made it official on Saturday.
They train at Minute Maid Park while waiting to play the winner of the wildcard series between Toronto and Seattle.
He said they hadn’t put their rotation past their opener yet because the opponent wasn’t determined at the time.
“We know, but we don’t want to solidify it until we know,” Baker said. “It can change depending on who we’re playing against.”
The 39-year-old Verlander led the AL with 18 wins, and his MLB-leading 1.75 ERA is the lowest for an AL qualified pitcher in a full season since Pedro Martinez’s 1.74 ERA in 2000.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner’s ERA was also the lowest in his career, beating his 2.40 ERA in 2011, when he won his first Cy Young and was also named AL MVP while playing at Detroit.
Justin Verlander starts Game 1 of the American League Division Series for Houston on Tuesday