The Toronto Blue Jays aimed to rely heavily on Shane Bieber, acquired specifically for high-stakes situations, to contain the Seattle Mariners in a crucial match of the American League Championship Series. The team had suffered from mistakes that impacted their performance in the first two games, losing both at home. Bieber's recent struggles, failing to make it past the third inning in his previous ALDS appearance against the New York Yankees, made this matchup even more critical.
Despite the spotlight on Bieber, the more concerning factor was how Mariners pitchers effectively utilized the Blue Jays' high-contact hitters to induce weak hits. Manager John Schneider emphasized the importance of creating runs, stating, "You’ve got to think create runs first, you know what I mean? We obviously have to score more in this series." This mindset set the stage for their subsequent performance.
In Game 3, held on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Park, the Blue Jays managed to shake off a sluggish start, resulting in a resounding 13-4 victory. The turning point came in a five-run third inning, sparked by Ernie Clement’s leadoff double and followed by Andres Gimenez’s game-tying home run. This inning alone surpassed their total runs from the first two games combined, with the team continuing their aggressive hitting thereafter, much to the astonishment of the 46,471 fans in the stands.
The victory not only revitalized the Blue Jays but also provided them an opportunity to tie the best-of-seven series in the upcoming Game 4, set to feature Max Scherzer against Luis Castillo. The road ahead looked more manageable compared to the daunting task before their first pitch in the series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had previously struggled without a hit through the first two games, made a significant impact by recording a single in the first inning, followed by a double and a run during the critical third. He added a homer to kick off the fifth inning, received an intentional walk, and scored on Alejandro Kirk’s three-run shot in the sixth. Guerrero finished the night by doubling again in the eighth inning.
George Springer, contributing to the offensive explosion, launched a 431-foot homer to straightaway center to lead off the fourth inning, tallying three hits for the game. Addison Barger also made a significant contribution with a solo home run in the ninth, while Daulton Varsho added a two-run double during the pivotal third inning. Clement and Kirk each collected two hits, successfully executing Schneider's pre-game strategy of targeting weaknesses in the Mariners’ pitching.
Bieber’s performance was also commendable; shaking off a challenging first inning where Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run homer, he delivered a stellar game overall. He effectively utilized a mix of five pitches, preventing any further runs and denying the Mariners an offensive foothold after the initial inning. His slider proved especially effective, resulting in seven swings and misses out of twelve attempts, while Seattle batters also missed on other pitches, totaling 17 whiffs on 45 swings.
While the Blue Jays faced the initial disappointment of losing two straight at home, the locker room maintained an air of confidence. Veteran Chris Bassitt remarked, "We’re not really shook by being down 2-0," reflecting the team’s belief in their capability to rebound. “It sucks, but, again, we just have confidence in what we’ve built,” he stated, illustrating the anticipation surrounding the challenge ahead.
In an effort to spark their offense, the Blue Jays made a strategic shift in their batting order, moving Anthony Santander to the cleanup position while slotting Barger down to seventh. Schneider explained this tactical adjustment was aimed at igniting the team’s hitting potential as they looked to capitalize on opportunities for two- or three-run homers.
Ultimately, the Blue Jays’ offensive outburst provided a much-needed boost as they fought back into the ALCS series, setting the stage for Game 4, which is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:33 p.m. in Seattle.
