Today in Jays History: Jays Clinch Home Wild Card Game

Five Years Ago Today

Jays beat the Red Sox to earn the home field for the 2016 AL Wild Card game (and you remember how that one ended).

The Jays won 2-1. Aaron Sanchez threw 7 innings, allowing just 2 hits, one a Manny Ramirez seventh-inning home run that was too close to the foul pole to call. It might have been foul, but do you think the umpires were going to rule against the Red Sox in Fenway? The loss cost the Red Sox home-field advantage in the ALDS against Cleveland.

Sanchez, as he had been all season, was dominant. He lowered his ERA to a league-leading 3.00 and improved his record to 15-2. What might have been if not for injuries?

On the offensive side, we only scored one run off Red Sox starter David Price, in his five innings, on a Devon Travis home run (his 11th of the season). Again, if not for injuries.... If you watch the video below, that was the most understated home run call of all time. I guess it was the end of a long season for Buck, but this was an important game.

That put us ahead until Manny's homer in the seventh.

In the top of the eighth, we restored our one-run lead. Josh Donaldson opened the inning with a single, Edwin Encarnacion walked, but Jose Bautista hit into a 5-3 double play. It was a rough season for Jose. Russell Martin singled, moving Edwin to third and Troy Tulowitzki singled him home.

Brett Cecil started the bottom of the eighth, giving up a single and getting a strikeout. Joe Biagini took his spot. This was Joe's rookie and best season with the Blue Jays. Still, I can't imagine I was thrilled with him coming into the game with the tying run on first. But he got a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Roberto Osuna gave up a two-out walk and a single to raise our heart rates (after getting Mookie Betts and David Ortiz each to ground out). But Jackie Bradley ground one to Donaldson at third. The Jays were set to host the Orioles in the Wild Card game, allowing Buck Showalter to demonstrate his managerial genius.

From the recap:

Jays of the Day: Sanchez (.253 WPA), Biagini (.199), Tulo (.141). And I’m giving one to Travis, even though he had a .075, because that was a huge homer. And I’m giving one to Josh for that great play on defense.

Suckage: Baustista, even with a single and a walk, had a -.115, much of that on the double play ball.

Of note, it was David Ortiz's last regular-season game. He went 0 for 4.