Thanks for joining me this evening! I'm Parker White signing off!
Game 2 of the ALDS between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays will take place tomorrow at 12:45 PM EST.
The 8-9-1 hitters in the Rangers lineup combined to go 4-for-10 with 5 runs scored and 4 RBI. Rougned Odor and Robinson Chirinos both hit home runs in this game.
WP: Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 3.60 ERA), LP: David Price (0-1, 6.43 ERA), SV: Sam Dyson (1, 0.00 ERA)
Texas Rangers defeated Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 in Game 1 of the ALDS!!!
END OF 9TH INNING
Bot 9th (2 Outs)- Russell Martin grounds out to third base, Hanser Alberto tags Smoak to get the final out of the game.
Bot 9th (1 Out)- Justin Smoak breaks his bat and hits a soft liner to second base. They get the runner at second base, 2 outs.
Bot 9th (0 Outs)- Troy Tulowitzki strikes swinging out on a 1-2 breaking ball that was running down and in.
Bot 9th (0 Outs)- Edwin Encarnacion starts off the ninth inning with a single up the middle!
Will Venable comes in to play left field for the Rangers
Rangers will bring in Sam Dyson to close the door and give his team a 1-0 series lead in the ALDS.
MIDDLE OF 9TH INNING
Top 9th (2 Outs)- Robinson Chirinos grounds out to third base to end the inning.
Top 9th (1 Out)- Rougned Odor flies out to left field.
Top 9th (0 Outs)- Elvis Andrus strikes out looking on a 3-2 fastball up in the zone.
Aaron Sanchez comes in the game to pitch in place of Brett Cecil
Dalton Pompey replaces right fielder Jose Bautista as he seemed to leave with some kind of lower leg injury. Maybe a cramp or calf injury.
END OF 8TH INNING
Jake Diekman came in and pitched two perfect innings for the Rangers!
Bot 8th (2 Outs)- Jose Bautista reaches for a pitch low in the zone and pops up in foul territory to first baseman Mitch Moreland.
Bot 8th (1 Out) Cliff Pennington flies out to right field.
Cliff Pennington come on as a pinch hitter.
Bot 8th (0 Outs)- Jake Diekman gets Ben Revere to ground out to third base for the first out of the inning.
Mitch Moreland replaces Mike Napoli at first base as a defensive replacement.
MIDDLE OF 8TH INNING
Top 8th (2 Outs)- Josh Hamilton roles over an 0-2 breaking ball to the shortstop and is thrown out at first after hustling down the line.
Top 8th (2 Outs)- Mike Napoli walks on four pitches.
Top 8th (1 Out)- Brett Cecil strikes out Prince Fielder with a nasty breaking ball, 2 outs.
Top 8th (0 Outs)- Hanser Alberto grounds out to second base.
David Price final pitching line: 7 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 Ks
Left-hander Brett Cecil replaces David Price
END OF 7TH INNING
Bot 7th (2 Outs)- Kevin Pillar flies out to center. Easy 1-2-3 inning for Jake Diekman.
Bot 7th (1 Out)- Ryan Goins hits a soft groundball in the hole by shortstop Elvis Andrus makes a nice jump throw to get the out.
Bot 7th (0 Outs)- Russell Martin strikes out swinging.
Left-hander Jake Diekman replaces Keone Kela
Drew Stubbs replaces Delino DeShields in center field
Texas Rangers 5 Toronto Blue Jays 3
MIDDLE OF 7TH INNING
Top 7th (2 Outs)- Shin-Soo Choo hits a fly ball to left field to end the inning.
Top 7th (2 Outs)- Delino DeShields hits a hard line drive that gets over a leaping Ben Revere. DeShields ends up at third base on a double and an error.
Top 7th ( 1 Out)- Robinson Chirinos popped out to second
Top 7th (1 Out)- Rougned Odor doesn't get hit this time, instead he turns on a pitch and hits a laser over the right field wall for a solo home run!!!
Top 7th (0 Outs)- Elvis Andrus hits a soft pop fly to left field.
Texas Rangers 4 Toronto Blue Jays 3
END OF 6TH INNING
Bot 6th (2 Outs)- Justin Smoak strikes out on a breaking ball in the dirt to end the inning.
Bot 6th (1 Out)- Troy Tulowitzki flies out to deep right center field.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- After almost hitting a back-to-back HR with Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion grounds out to the third baseman.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- Jose Bautista hits a BOMB on a 1-2 fastball at 97 MPH to center field!!! Blue Jays cut the lead to 4-3!!!
Gallardo's final pitching line: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Yovani Gallardo is replaced by right-hander Keone Kela
MIDDLE OF 6TH INNING
Top 6th (2 Outs)- David Price strikes out Josh Hamilton on three pitches.
Top 6th (1 Out)- Mike Napoli lined out to center field.
Josh Donaldson is being looked at for a concussion after being kneed in the head at second base. Beltre also hurt himself sliding at second base as he hurt the turf hard and messed up his back.
Top 6th (0 Outs)- Prince Fielder pops up in shallow center field. Troy Tulowitzki makes the catch.
Texas Rangers 4 Toronto Blue Jays 2
END OF 5TH INNING
Bot 5th (2 Outs)- On a 2-1 count, Carrera hits a high chopper to second base but Odor makes a strong throw to get him at first.
Both teams have lost their All-Star third baseman with injuries.
Ezequiel Carrera is pinch hitting for Josh Donaldson has he leaves the game with an apparent head injury, maybe a concussion.
Bot 5th (1 Out)- Ben Revere hits a hard line drive that bounces off the first baseman Mike Napoli. They get the out at first and Pillar advances to third.
Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux comes to the mound to talk with Gallardo.
Bot 5th (1 Out)- Kevin Pillar comes through with an RBI double to right field!!! Blue Jays cut the lead to 4-2!!!
Bot 5th (0 Outs)- Ryan Goins does his job by grounding out to second base and advancing Martin to third base, 1 out.
Bot 5th (0 Outs)- Russell Martin lead off the inning with a hustle double.
Coming into the game Price had shocking postseason numbers with a 1-5 record and 4.50 ERA. In three career starts against the Rangers in the ALDS, Price is 0-3 with a 4.66 ERA
MIDDLE OF 5TH INNING
Top 5th (2 Outs)- Hanser Alberto ends the inning with a ground out to third base.
Top 5th (1 Out)- Shin-Soo Choo grounds out to second base.
David Price has shaky fastball command today. The 11 days off seem to have an effect.
Top 5th (0 Outs)- Delino DeShields trys to bunt his way on but doesn't succeed.
Top 5th (0 Outs)- Robinson Chirinos makes him pay as he blasts a 2-run home run to left field to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead!!!
Top 5th (0 Outs)- For the second time of the game David Price hits Rougned Odor to lead off the inning. Price wanted to get a fastball in but it clipped Odor in the shoulder.
Yovani Gallardo stat line: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
David Price stat line: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 Ks
END OF 4TH INNING
Bot 4th (2 Outs)- Yovani Gallardo strikes out Justin Smoak with a 2-2 breaking ball to end the inning. He limited the damage and keeps the score 2-1 in favor of the Rangers.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- Troy Tulowitzki hits the 0-1 pitch to center field. Hit it hard but routine grab for the centerfielder. Jose Bautista tags and gets to third base, 2 outs.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- Edwin Encarnacion hits a dribbler to third base, the runner scores and Encarnacion is safe at first as Alberto couldn't handle it. Runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out. It's a 2-1 ballgame!!!
Josh Donaldson went in hard at second to break up the double play. Seemed to hit his head on Odor's knee but seems ok.
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- On a 3-2 count, Jose Bautista grounds to third base. They get the runner at second base. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 1 out.
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- Josh Donaldson walks on a 3-1 count. Runners at 1st and 2nd and the crowd is starting to get amped up!!!
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- Ben Revere picks up the first base hit of the game with a single to center field. That is also the first baserunner for Toronto as Yovani Gallardo was magnificent.
MIDDLE OF 4TH INNING
Official update on Adrian Beltre is lower back stiffness. It must have really bothered him because it takes a lot to take Beltre out of a game.
Top 4th (2 Outs)- On a 1-2 pitch, Elvis Andrus flies out to right field. Easy 1-2-3 inning for David Price.
Top 4th (1 Out)- Josh Hamilton pops up on the infield for the second out.
Top 4th (0 Outs)- David Price struck out Mike Napoli swinging for the second time of the game.
There is a dull buzzing sound in Rogers Centre. They want to explode for their Blue Jays but the offense has been shutdown one time through the lineup.
END OF 3RD INNING
Bot 3rd (2 Outs)- Kevin Pillar grounds out to the pitcher on a 2-2 count. Another 1-2-3 inning for Yovani Gallardo!!!
Bot 3rd (1 Out)- Ryan Goins grounds out to shortstop.
Bot 3rd (0 Outs)- After getting ahead 3-0, Russell Martin grounds out to the newly inserted third baseman on a 3-1 pitch.
Adrian Beltre is replaced at third base by Hanser Alberto
MIDDLE OF 3RD INNING
Texas Rangers 2 Toronto Blue Jays 0
Top 3rd (2 Outs)- Prince Fielder grounds out to second to end the inning.
Beltre ran to first base in noticeable pain. He stays in the game but he is running gingerly.
Top 3rd (2 Outs)- Adrian Beltre comes through with 2 outs as he hit a rocket over the second baseman into center field. DeShields comes around from second to score. Rangers up 2-0!!!
Top 3rd (1 Out)- Shin-Soo Choo grounds out softly to the shortstop. Runner advances to second base.
Top 3rd (1 Out)- Delino DeShields drives in the first run of the game as he smacked an opposite field single to right field!!! The second baseman was out of position as he tried to keep Odor from getting a big lead, it hurt the Blue Jays.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- With Odor running, Robinson Chirinos grounds out softly to third baseman Josh Donaldson. Runner at second base, 1 out.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- Rougned Odor is hit by a pitch on an 0-1 breaking ball.
END OF 2ND INNING
Six up, six down for Yovani Gallardo!!!
Bot 2nd (2 Outs)- Justin Smoak grounded out to second base on a 2-2 count. Elvis Andrus ranged up the middle and made a nice jump throw to get the out.
Bot 2nd (1 Out)- Troy Tulowitzki followed with a ground out to the shortstop.
Bot 2nd (0 Outs)- Edwin Encarnacion flied out to center field for the first out. At first glance it seemed Encarnacion might have gone deep.
MIDDLE OF 2ND INNING
Top 2nd (2 Outs)- David Price strikes out the side in the second inning!!! Elvis Andrus battled by fouling off some fastballs, but Price went back to the changeup and got the swinging strikeout!!!
Top 2nd (1 Out)- David Price strikes out Josh Hamilton looking on a nasty 1-2 curveball! Second straight strikeout for Price.
Top 2nd (0 Outs)- David Price strikes out Mike Napoli swinging on a changeup down in the zone.
END OF 1ST INNING
Bot 1st (2 Outs)- On a 3-1 count, Jose Bautista pops up on the infield. It's an easy 1-2-3 inning for Yovani Gallardo.
Bot 1st (1 Out)- Josh Donaldson works a full count and then flys out to center. Donaldson just got under that pitch.
Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Ben Revere flys out to center on the second pitch he sees.
MIDDLE OF 1ST INNING
Top 1st (1 Out)- Prince Fielder grounds into a double-play to end the threat. Russell Martin's visit to the mound seemed to calm down Price.
Top 1st (1 Out)- David Price walks Adrian Beltre on four pitches
Top 1st (1 Out)- Shin-Soo Choo runs the count full and then walks for the baserunner of the game.
Top 1st (0 outs)- Delino DeSheilds flys out to center field for the first out of the game.
Playoff baseball in Toronto is underway!!!
The teams have been announced and we are set for first pitch at the Rogers Centre in Game 1 of the ALDS!!!
We are 30 minutes away till Game 1 of the ALDS between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays!!!
Toronto Blue Jays starting lineup: 1.) LF Ben Revere 2.) 3B Josh Donaldson 3.) RF Jose Bautista 4.) DH Edwin Encarnacion 5.) SS Troy Tulowitzki 6.) 1B Justin Smoak 7.) C Russell Martin 8.) 2B Ryan Goins 9.) CF Kevin Pillar
Texas Rangers starting lineup: 1.) CF Delino DeSheilds 2.) RF Shin-Shoo Choo 3.) 3B Adrian Beltre 4.) DH Prince Fielder 5.) 1B Mike Napoli 6.) LF Josh Hamilton 7.) SS Elvis Andrus 8.) 2B Rougned Odor 9.) Robinson Chirinos
A potential deciding factor in the outcome of this game, if not the entire series, is the impact Toronto’s crowd. This is the first time the Blue Jays have been to the playoffs since 1993 when they won the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. That was the memorable game in which Toronto slugger Joe Carter hit a walk-off three-run home run off closer Mitch Williams to win the World Series. Since that point it’s been a tough go for the city of Toronto, but this team has infused life into the fans and they are selling out every night.
Texas will hand the ball to Yovani Gallardo who is in his first season with the Rangers. After a couple rough seasons in Milwaukee, Gallardo showed he still has top-of-the-rotation quality as he went 13-11 with a 3.42 ERA, the lowest of his career in a full season. His WHIP of 1.42 is concerning as that is a career-high, but the ability to get out of jams with runners on base is a nice quality to have in a veteran pitcher. Gallardo has confidence as he defeated the Blue Jays twice this season. "I think we've come up with a good game plan, just being aggressive," said Gallardo. "Obviously they have a good lineup, a powerful lineup. With the catchers, we did a good job of making adjustments throughout the game whenever we had to."
"He throws 98 with a couple of off speed pitches. He hits his spots," said Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder. "He doesn't mess around too much. He come right after hitters and he's not afraid of contact. He's a great pitcher, and it's going to be tough."
Price put up another CY Young caliber season as he went 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA. In 11 starts with Toronto, Price is 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA. On the season, the 30-year-old left-hander accumulated 220.1 innings and racked up 225 strikeouts, the second most in his career. Price will come into this start on 11 days rest, something he talked about, “If you can get these days off at this point in the season, that’s good. If you can come into the postseason with your body feeling the way I feel right now, that’s a plus.”
Considering the ballparks these two teams play, their pitching staffs have had their struggles with preventing runs throughout the season. However, both teams would get huge upgrades in their rotation at the trade deadline as the Blue Jays acquired David Price from the Detroit Tigers and the Rangers acquired Cole Hamels from the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels had to pitch on the last day of the season so he won’t be ready until Game 2, but Price is geared and ready for Game 1 of the ALDS.
Coming into the 2015 season it was unknown whether Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder would rebound to his old self after recovering from neck surgery. Well the All-Star bounced back stronger than anyone anticipated and was the stall worth in the Rangers’ lineup. Fielder, just like Donaldson for Toronto, led the Rangers in most categories, including batting average (.305), home runs (23), RBI (98), on-base percentage (378) and hits (187).
Texas Rangers manager Jeff Bannister gave praise to Toronto's lineup, saying, "That's a great group of hitters. You've got to give them credit, you look at their numbers and what they've done, they speak for themselves."
Blue Jays All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson has really transformed this offense since his arrival from Oakland in the offseason. He’s not only complemented hitters like Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, but he’s led the way as he is the leading candidate for American League MVP. Donaldson leads the team in batting average (.297), home runs (41), RBI (124) and hits (184).
The Texas Rangers (88-74) and Toronto Blue Jays (93-69) come into Game 1 of the American League Division Series with similar styles of play. The strength of both teams comes from their offense, as they rank in the top-three in MLB in runs scored. The Blue Jays are number one in runs scored (891), home runs (232), and slugging percentage (.457). Texas is ranked third in runs (751), 11th in home runs (172), and ninth in slugging percentage (.413). Toronto’s offense is head and shoulders above everyone, they’ve scored 127 more runs than the second place team and own a run differential of +221.
Hello and welcome to VAVEL USA’s live coverage of the 2015 American League Division Series between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays. I’m Parker White and I will be providing live play-by-play and commentary in Game 1 of the ALDS. The game starts at 3:37 PM EST on Thursday, October 08, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Keep following throughout the MLB Postseason here at VAVEL USA as we will provide live coverage and recaps of every game.