Twins complete two-game sweep, eliminate Blue Jays from playoffs
Posted October 4, 2023 7:32 pm.
Last Updated October 4, 2023 9:18 pm.
The Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday with a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the American League wild card.
Backed by veteran starter Sonny Gray, the Twins stymied the underachieving Blue Jays lineup en route to the shutout win. Gray went five scoreless innings, registering two walks and six strikeouts.
Toronto managed only one run in the two AL wild-card games, an RBI single from Kevin Kiermaier on Tuesday.
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa put his team on the board with a bases-loaded RBI single, leading to a fielders choice RBI a batter later. That’s all the Twins needed to eliminate Toronto in two games.
Fans question Schneider’s decision-making in pivotal playoff game
Blue Jays manager John Schneider caught the ire of many fans on social media when he decided to remove starter Jose Berrios from Wednesday’s game after three innings in which Berrios performed well, with five strikeouts and three hits allowed.
Toronto’s Game 2 starter had only thrown 47 pitches, including 32 strikes when Schneider opted for lefty Yusei Kikuchi to face left-handed hitter Max Kepler, who singled off the southpaw.
This forced Twins manager Rocco Baldelli to pinch-hit lefty hitter Alex Kirilloff for right-handed batter Donovan Solano. Solano walked, leading to the RBI from Correa.
The Blue Jays failed to capitalize in different scenarios, including a two-out, two-on situation with George Springer on third, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on second base and Bo Bichette at the plate in a 3-and-2 count. Gray would pick Guerrero off at second base, ending the inning.
Sonny Gray picks off Guerrero Jr to end the inning. ????
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RELATED: Toronto Blue Jays bats fall silent as Minnesota Twins win Game 1
The Blue Jays have lost six straight wild-card games dating back to their 2020 series against the Tampa Bay Rays and last year’s series against the Seattle Mariners. Toronto’s last post-season win came on October 18, 2016.
Jays hitters struggled mightily in the two playoff games with little to show for what was a negative trend all season long. Brandon Belt finished the wild-card series 0-for-8 with five strikeouts, Cavan Biggio (1-for-8 with three strikeouts), Daulton Varsho (0-for-5 with three strikeouts) and Guerrero (1-for-7), leaving Toronto with few consistent sources of offence.
Toronto now heads into the offseason with several pending free agents, including Matt Chapman, Hyun Jin Ryu, Whit Merrifield (mutual option), Belt and Jordan Hicks, to name a few. There is also the uncertainty of what lies ahead for starter Alek Manoah, whose turbulent and inconsistent season on the mound will undoubtedly lead to questions this winter.
For the Twins, this is their first playoff series win since 2002. On Tuesday, Minnesota picked up its first playoff game win since 2004, having lost nine-straight post-season series’.
Minnesota will play the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series, while the Texas Rangers will play the Baltimore Orioles. The Rangers swept the Rays in two games.
