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Final - Texas Rangers 6 Toronto Blue Jays 4

Bottom 14th (2 Outs) - BOOK IT! Ohlendorf gets Kevin Pillar to chase on a slider in the dirt and Texas takes a 2-0 lead in the best of five game series as they series heads to Arlington

Bottom 14th (2 Outs) - Russell Martin is hit by a 1-2 pitch and the Jays still have some life

Bottom 14th (1 Out) - Justin Smoak goes down swinging and the Blue Jays are one out away from being down 2 games to 0

Bottom 14th (0 Outs) - Ohlendorf gets Tulo out on strikes looking with a fastball on the inside

*Pitching Change - Ross Ohlendorf replaces Keone Kela

Middle of 14th Inning

Top 14th (2 Outs) - Liam Hendriks gets Choo to line out to center field and Texas looks to end the game and go up 2-0 in the series

Top 14th (2 Outs) - Delino DeShields gets in on the action as he singles on an infield hit. Gimenez scores from third

*Pitching Change - Liam Hendriks replaces LaTroy Hawkins

Top 14th (2 Outs) - Hanser Alberto! He lines one up the gap to center field. Pillar's throw is too late to the plate and Texas takes the lead with their third straight two-out hit!

Top 14th (2 Outs) - Gimenez gets his first hit of the game with a single to right field. Odor moves up to 2nd. The throw behind Odor is a close play. Toronto is challenging. Odor is confirmed safe.

Top 14th (2 Outs) - Rougned Odor singles on a ground ball to third base. Rangers have a possible chance now to take the lead

Top 14th (1 Out) - Josh Hamilton also lines out to right field. Two outs

Top 14th (0 Outs) - Elvis Andrus lines out to Bautista in right field

*Pitching Change - LaTroy Hawkins replaces Aaron Sanchez

End of 13th Inning

Bottom 13th (2 Outs) - Edwin Encarnacion flies out deep to center field on the first pitch and to the 14th inning we go

Bottom 13th (2 Outs) - Jose Bautista walks and Kela seemed to want no part of him. But now he has to face Encarnacion

Bottom 13th (1 Out) - Donaldson strikes out on a ball in the dirt and Gimenez throws down to first to complete the strikeout

Bottom 13th (1 Out) - Josh Donaldson just misses a home run and Kela and him have some words after a quick pitch from Kela. Donaldson walks towards him and both benches come out

Bottom 13th (0 Outs) - Revere grounds out to first base

*Pitching Change - Keone Kela replaces Shawn Tolleson

Middle of 13th Inning

Top 13th (2 Outs) - Mike Napoli grounds out to second base to end the top of the 13th inning

Top 13th (2 Outs) - Wil Venable singles on a ground ball up the middle to center field

Top 13th (1 Out) - Choo grounds out to short and both offenses have seemed to stall

Top 13th (0 Out) - Delino DeShields is called out looking on strikes to begin the half inning

End of 12th Inning

Bottom 12th (2 Outs) - Ryan Goins grounds out to second base to end the inning and send us even further into the game as we pass the four hour mark

Bottom 12th (2 Outs) - With Ryan Goins batting, Dalton Pompey steals second base

Bottom 12th (1 Out) - Kevin Pillar is called out on strikes with a fastball on the inside corner

Bottom 12th (0 Outs) - Russell Martin pops out to Alberto at third base for the first out. Pompey stays put at 1st

*Pinch-Runner - Dalton Pompey replaces Chris Colabello

Bottom 12th (0 Outs) - Colabello leads off the inning with a single up the middle and the winning run is on first base for Toronto

Middle of 12th Inning

Top 12th (2 Outs) - Alberto strikes out swinging and the Blue Jays will look to end the game once again

Top 12th (1 Out) - Gimenez grounds out sharply to third base

*Pitching Change - Aaron Sanchez replaces Aaron Loup

Top 12th (0 Outs) - Rougned Odor flies out to left field to begin the 12th inning

End of 11th Inning

Bottom 11th (2 Outs) - Tulowitzki flies out to Choo in right field and we have more free baseball ahead

Bottom 11th (1 Out) - Edwin Encarnacion is called out on strikes with a high breaking ball

Bottom 11th (0 Outs) - Jose Bautista leads off the inning and pops out to shortstop Elvis Andrus

*Pitching Change - Shawn Tolleson replaces Jake Diekman

Middle of 11th Inning

Top 11th (2 Outs) - Josh Hamilton hits a fly ball to center field and Pillar grabs it for the out and Toronto once again has all the cards to end this game

*Pitching Change - Aaron Loup replaces Mark Lowe

Top 11th (1 Out) - Andrus hits a soft ground ball to third base. Donaldson gets Napoli out at second but Andrus hustles down the line to be safe at first. Venable moves up to third on the play

Top 11th (1 Out) - Mike Napoli works a full count himself and walks, putting Venable in scoring position with only one out

*Pinch Runner - Wil Venable replaces Prince Fielder

Top 11th (1 Out) - Prince Fielder works a full count walk after being down 0-2 in the count

Top 11th (0 Outs) - Shin-Soo Choo goes down swinging on the fastball from Lowe

*Pitching Change - Mark Lowe replaces Roberto Osuna

End of 10th Inning

Bottom 10th (2 Outs) - Josh Donaldson grounds out to second base and we are going further into the game. 11th inning here we come!

Bottom 10th (1 Out) - Revere works a full count but is jammed and pops it out to SS Andrus

Bottom 10th (0 Outs) - Ryan Goins ground out to Diekman on the mound for the first out

Middle of 10th Inning

Top 10th (2 Outs) - DeShields hits a knubber in front of the plate, Martin grabs it and throws him out at first base

Top 10th (1 Out) - Alberto grounds out to Tulo at shortstop and Toronto is looking at a quick top half of the inning

Top 10th (0 Outs) - Gimenez lines out to center field beginning the extra frame

End of 9th Inning

Bottom 9th (2 Outs) - Diekman strikes out Pillar on some high cheese, touching 99 mph on the gun

Bottom 9th (1 Out) - Martin goes down looking to a 98 mph fastball from Diekman

Bottom 9th (0 Outs) - Colabello flies out to shallow center field to begin the bottom of the 9th

*Pitching Change - Jake Diekman replaces Sam Dyson

Middle of 9th Inning

Top 9th (2 Outs) - Rougned Odor grounds out to first base and we head to the bottom of the 9th with the Blue Jays having a chance to end it

Top 9th (1 Out) - Josh Hamilton goes down swinging on the changeup

Top 9th (0 Outs) - Elvis Andrus flies out to left field on the first pitch seen from Osuna

*Pitching Change - Roberto Osuna replaces Brett Cecil

End of 8th Inning

Bottom 8th (2 Outs) - Tulo swings at the first pitch from Dyson and grounds out to second baseman Odor to end the Blue Jays threat

Bottom 8th (2 Outs) - Rangers intentionally walk Encarnacion to bring Troy Tulowitzki to the plate with two outs

Bottom 8th (1 Out) - Dyson strikes out Jose Bautista on a changeup in the dirt. Gimenez throws him out at first base

Bottom 8th (1 Out) - With Bautista batting, Revere steals second base

Bottom 8th (0 Outs) - Donaldson on first pitch breaks his bat and hits a soft line drive to Andrus at short

Bottom 8th (0 Outs) - Revere hits a ball right back at Dyson and he doesn't field the ball cleaning allowing Revere to reach safely. Scored a base hit

*Pitching Change - Sam Dyson comes in to replace Cole Hamels

Middle of 8th Inning

Top 8th (2 Outs) - With Elvis Andrus batting, Mike Napoli is caught off first base and is tagged out in a run down. On the play, Brett Cecil comes up limping and looks to be injured

Top 8th (2 Outs) - Napoli comes through with a line drive single to right field. DeShields scores from second base and we are tied 4-4!

*Pinch Hitter - Mike Napoli comes in to bat for Mitch Moreland

Top 8th (1 Out) - Cecil gets Fielder to strike out swinging on a breaking ball out of the zone

Top 8th (0 Out) - Shin-Soo Choo bunts it up the first base line and DeShields moves up to second with one out

Marcus Stroman's final line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

*Pitching change - Brett Cecil will replace Marcus Stroman

Top 8th (0 Outs) - Delino DeShields singles on a live drive to center field and that could be all for Stroman

End of 7th Inning

Bottom 7th (2 Outs) - Goins is called out on strikes on three pitches and Hamels has set down 8 Blue Jays in a row

Bottom 7th (1 Out) - Kevin Pillar hits a ground ball to Alberto at third base and is thrown out for the second out.

Bottom 7th (0 Outs) - Martin is rung up on strikes with a close call on a fastball on the inside corner. Blue Jays have not been happy with home plate umpire at times today

Middle of 7th Inning

Top 7th (2 Outs) - Hanser Alberto hits a bloop to right field and Jose Bautista makes a terrific catch to bring us toward the 7th inning stretch

Top 7th (1 Out) - Gimenez grounds out to Tulowitzki at shortstop and there are two down in the Rangers' 7th

Top 7th (0 Outs) - Odor hits a ground ball down to second and is thrown out by Goins to begin the inning

End of 6th Inning

Bottom 6th (2 Outs) - Colabello also strikes out swinging on a changeup from Hamels. An easy 1-2-3 inning for the Texas ace

Bottom 6th (1 Out) - Tulo strikes out swinging on a nasty changeup from Hamels

Bottom 6th (0 Outs) - Encarnacion hits a ground ball to Alberto at third, he throws him out to begin the bottom half of the inning

Middle of 6th Inning

Top 6th (2 Outs) - Hamilton chases a curveball in the dirt and Stroman escapes danger in the 6th inning with his 5th strikeout of the game

Top 6th (2 Outs) - On the first pitch, Elvis Andrus drills a line drive single to right field. Moreland makes it to second base. Runners on 1st and 2nd with two out

Top 6th (2 Outs) - Moreland works an eight pitch walk and Texas has their first base runner since the 2nd inning

Top 6th (1 Out) - Fielder grounds out to second base and the number is now at 14 in a row for Stroman  

Top 6th (0 Outs) - Choo lines out to Revere in left field and Stroman has now retired 13 straight Rangers

End of 5th Inning

Bottom 5th (2 Outs) - Bautista just misses a home run that goes foul and then pops out to catcher Chris Gimenez to end the inning

Bottom 5th (1 Out) - Donaldson flies out to Choo in right field and Revere, who was stealing on the pitch, returns to first base in time

Bottom 5th (1 Out) - Ben Revere gets the best of his former Philly teammate with a ground-ball single to right field and Toronto takes the lead!

Bottom 5th (0 Outs) - Ryan Goins lays down a sacrifice bunt that moves up Pillar to third base with 1 out

Bottom 5th (0 Outs) - Pillar reaches out for one on the outside corner and bloops it over Moreland's head at first base for a leadoff double

Middle of 5th Inning

Top 5th (2 Outs) - DeShields on the first pitch grounds one up the middle and Tulowitzki makes an incredible play to get the speedy DeShields out at first!

Top 5th (1 Out) - Hanser Alberto strikes out on three pitches and Stroman is looking dominant right now  

Top 5th (0 Outs) - Gimenez grounds out to Donaldson at third base and Marus Stroman has now set down 10 straight Texas batters

End of 4th Inning

Bottom 4th (2 Outs) - Russell Martin also grounds out to Odor at second base and Hamels has settled down this power lineup for Toronto the past few innings

Bottom 4th (1 Out) - Colabello grounds out to second base and Hamels has a chance to get his first 1-2-3 inning in this game

Bottom 4th (o Outs) - Tulo strikes out swinging after an eight pitch battle. Gimenez throws to first after the past ball to get Tulo out at first.  

Middle of 4th Inning

Top 4th (2 Outs) - Odor takes a fastball on the inside corner for the strikeout and Stroman has himself another 1-2-3 inning

Top 4th (1 Out) - Josh Hamilton also swings on the first pitch, hitting a ground ball to Tulo at short

Top 4th (0 Out) - Andrus grounds out to Donaldson at third base on the first pitch to begin the inning

End of 3rd Inning

Bottom 3rd (2 Outs) - Encarncion dribbles a ball slowly to Hamels back on the mound for the out

Bottom 3rd (2 Outs) - Bautista singles on a line drive to left field that Hamilton trapped with his glove

Bottom 3rd (1 Out) - Hamels strucks out Donaldson looking with a fastball on the outside corner

Bottom 3rd (o Outs) - Revere leads off the inning with a ground out to first base

Middle of 3rd Inning

Top 3rd (2 Outs) - Stroman gets Moreland to strike out with a two-seam fastball and look out Rangers, this young kid is feeling it now.

Top 3rd (1 outs) - Fielder grounds out to first base and Stroman is looking at the first 1-2-3 inning of the game

Top 3rd (0 Outs) - Stroman strikes out Choo on four pitches

End of 2nd Inning

Bottom 2nd (2 Outs) - Ryan Goins grounds out to second base, but the Blue Jays get even and we are right back where we started all tied.

Bottom 2nd (0 Outs) - Kevin Pillar grounds into double play. Colabello scores on the play to tie the game for Toronto!

Bottom 2nd (o Outs) - Russell Martin hits a long, line-drive single to right field. Tulo scoes, Colabello advances to 3rd base. Blue Jays cut the Rangers lead.

Bottom 2nd  (0 Outs) - Chris Colabello hits a ground-rule double that bounces into the right field stands. Tulowitzki goes to 3rd. Runners at 2nd and 3rd and no outs!

Bottom 2nd (0 Outs) - Troy Tulowitzki reaches on a fielding error by Rangers' third baseman Hanser Alberto

Middle of 2nd Inning

Top 2nd (2 Outs) - Delino DeShields grounds out to first baseman Colabello at first to end the inning. Rangers score again, though, and lead 3-1

Top 2nd (1 Out) - Hanser Alberto hits a sacrifice fly to center field. Kevin Pillar has a shot at him with a perfect throw but Odor's speed is too much, safe at the plate.

Challenge Play - Odor is confirmed safe by the umpires

Top 2nd (0 Outs) - Chris Gimenez chops a groundball that is fielded by Stroman and throws him out at first. Odor, with the hustle play, makes it first to third on the out. Toronto is challenging the safe call.

Top 2nd (0 Outs) - Rougned Odor walks on four pitches to begin the 2nd inning

END OF 1ST INNING

Bot 1st (2 Outs)- On the 3-1 pitch, Edwin Encarnacion flys out to center field.

Bot 1st (1 Out)- Jose Bautista fouled out to first base.

Bot 1st (1 Out)- Josh Donaldson works the count full after getting behind 0-2. On the ensuing pitch, Donaldson cranks a solo home run to center field!!! Rogers Centre is going crazy! Lead cut to 2-1!

Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Ben Revere grounds out on the second pitch of the at-bat for the first out of the inning.

MIDDLE OF 1ST INNING

Top 1st (1 Out)- Josh Hamilton grounds out sharply to first. Chris Colabello looks the runner back, tags Hamilton at first and then runs all the way over to third to get Fielder who wandered off the bag too far. Thats what you call and unassisted double play by the first baseman, just like they planned it.

Top 1st (0 Outs)- Elvis Andrus grounds out to first base. Runners advance to 2nd and 3rd.

Top 1st (0 Outs)- Mitch Moreland hits a routine ball to first, Chris Colabello throws home and gets the runner in a rundown. Russell Martin throws it past Donaldson and the ball gets away allowing the runner to score. Runners at 1st and 2nd and the Rangers are up 2-0!!!

Top 1st (0 Outs)- Prince Fielder hits a very high-chopper to second base, the ball bounces off Goins' glove and all hands are safe. Runners at 1st and 3rd and still nobody out.

Top 1st (0 Outs)- On a 3-2 count, Shin-Soo Choo smacks an RBI single up the middle and the Rangers are quickly on the board 1-0!!!

Top 1st (0 Outs)- Delino De Sheilds puts a charge in it and Jose Bautista made a nice effort but as he embraced the wall the ball jared out of his glove. DeShields is at second base with a double.

Ok baseball fans, Game 2 of the ALDS between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays is underway!!!

Both Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista are back in the starting lineup for Toronto after being removed in yesterday's game with injuries. Blue Jays are hoping their power can even the season for them today.

Here is the Toronto Blue Jays lineup behind Marcus Stroman: 1. Ben Revere (L) LF 2. Josh Donaldson (R) 3B 3. Jose Bautista (R) RF 4. Edwin Encarnacion (R) DH 5. Troy Tulowitzki (R) SS 6. Chris Colabello (R) 1B 7. Russell Martin (R) C 8. Kevin Pillar (R) CF 9. Ryan Goins (L) 2B

Rangers starting third baseman, Adrian Beltre is not in the lineup today after being removed in yesterdays game with an injury. Hanser Alberto will take his place and bat ninth.

Here is the Texas Rangers lineup behind Cole Hamels today: 1. Delino DeShields (R) CF 2. Shin-Shoo Choo (L) RF 3. Prince Fielder (L) DH 4. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B 5. Elvis Andrus (R) SS 6. Josh Hamilton (L) LF 7. Roughned Odor (L) 2B 8. Chris Gimenez (R) C 9. Hanser Alberto (R) 3B

Strictly from a common sense standpoint the Blue Jays wouldn’t want to go down 2-0 in a series, especially since they would have to travel on the road to keep their season alive. But statistically it’s bad news because since 2004, 27 teams have gone down 2-0 in the division series, and none other than the 2012 San Francisco Giants have come back to win. As we know, from there the Giants would go on to win the World Series.

Jose Bautista also left the game for Toronto in the ninth inning with a sore right hamstring. He popped up in his at-bat in the eighth inning and gingerly strolled back to the dugout, and in between innings he was seen stretching it in the dugout but decided he couldn’t give it a go. This was Bautista’s first career playoff game and he made some noise as he blasted a solo home run in the sixth inning. It would be tough enough if Donaldson couldn’t play, but if Bautista can’t give it a go it’s tough to figure how the Blue Jays could pull it out against Hamels.

Two innings later in the fifth, Toronto’s premier third baseman Josh Donaldson would leave after he was kneed in the head when sliding into second base. He was checked for a concussion and passed all the concussion tests. He will go through observation on Thursday night, and the team will make a decision on his availability before the game.

“Obviously we want Adrian in there,” manager Jeff Banister said. “He’s the heart and soul of this ballclub.”

Despite the win and its significance on the series, the biggest storyline has to be the injuries to All-Star third basemen Adrian Beltre and Josh Donaldson. Beltre came out of the game in the third inning after roping an RBI single to center, but he could hardly make it to first because what would later be revealed in an MRI is a lower back strain. 

Stroman’s ability to get back has been noticed around the league, including the guy he will face Friday in Cole Hamels. “I think you have to give Stroman some serious credit for what he’s done this year,” said Hamels. “… From what he’s been able to do, it’s absolutely tremendous.”

Speaking of an eye towards 2016, it was thought that Blue Jays' Game 2 starter Marcus Stroman wouldn’t be back until the start of next season because he tore his ACL in spring training. Well he worked hard to come back and he’s been the guy the Blue Jays needed to help stabilize the rotation with Price. In only four regular season starts, Stroman has gone 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA. Stroman, 24, has gone at least seven innings and given up one run or less in three straight starts.

It’s been awhile since Cole Hamels has been in a postseason setting because of the rough years with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 13 career playoff starts, Hamels has gone 7-4 with a 3.09 ERA. Hamels had a rough 2009 postseason where he went 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA in four starts, but this is the same guy who won the 2008 World Series MVP because he went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA.

This series couldn’t have started any better for the Rangers. They win Game 1 on the road in a hostile environment against one of the better pitchers in the game in David Price, and they didn’t have to use their ace in Cole Hamels. When the Rangers acquired the veteran left-hander, it was a move with the eye towards 2016 when they would be fully healthy and in a better spot to compete. Well that went by the wayside as they had a killer second half and Hamels was a big part as he went 7-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 starts, including the last game of the season where he pitched a complete game to wrap up the NL West.

David Price continued his postseason struggles as he gave up five runs on five hits – two of which were home runs – in seven innings of work. The power left-hander did strike out five and helped the bullpen as the Blue Jays only used three total pitchers.

The Rangers have a 1-0 series advantage as they defeated the Blue Jays 5-3 on Thursday afternoon. Yovani Gallardo picked up the win as he went five innings limiting the high-powered Blue Jays offense to two runs on four hits. The way he maneuvered through the lineup was impressive as the struck out only one batter. Gallardo lived on the outside corner and made the Toronto hitters adjust to his game plan.

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 Karl Capen and I will be providing live play-by-play and commentary in Game 2 of the ALDS. The game starts at 12:30 PM EST on Friday, October 9, 2015 at Rogers Centre in TorontoOntario. Keep following throughout the MLB Postseason here at VAVEL USA as we will provide live coverage and recaps of every game.

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About the author
Karl  Capen
Head MLB Editor. Die hard sports fan and avid baseball guru. Follow me on Twitter @Capen316