TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays clinched their first trip to the American League Championship Series since 1993, overcoming one of the most bizarre plays in playoff history when Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer after three Texas Rangers errors for a 6-3 victory Wednesday in the deciding Game 5 of the division series.
The Blue Jays became the third team to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.
Bautista’s homer capped an event-filled, 53-minute seventh inning that took a turn when Toronto catcher Russell Martin’s throw back to the pitcher deflected off batter Shin-Soo Choo and allowed the tiebreaking run to score.
“It’s the most emotionally charged game that I’ve ever played,” said Bautista, nicknamed Joey Bats.
The Blue Jays filed a protest after an umpire review ruled Rougned Odor was allowed to cross home plate. Toronto fans pelted the field with debris during the 18-minute delay.
The Rangers started the bottom half by making three consecutive errors, and Toronto rallied. Benches cleared twice in the Blue Jays’ half of the inning.
Roberto Osuna got the final five outs for his first postseason save.
Osuna turned toward the outfield after striking out Wil Venable, looked to the sky and was mobbed by his teammates as jubilant fans rocked the Rogers Centre.
After Edwin Encarnacion tied it, 2-2, with a second-deck drive off tough-luck loser Cole Hamels in the sixth, Odor led off the seventh with a single and went to third on a sacrifice and groundout.
With Choo up, Martin’s throw back to reliever Aaron Sanchez deflected off Choo and dribbled toward third base.
Home-plate umpire Dale Scott initially ruled it a dead ball but, after Rangers manager Jeff Banister questioned the call, the umpires huddled and Odor was sent home.
“I just caught the ball and threw it back very casually and it hit his bat and then next thing you know run scores. It’s never happened in my life before,” Martin said.
“It’s just one of those moments, and it created an opportunity for us to do something special.”
First Published: October 15, 2015, 4:25 a.m.
