ALCS Game 3: Blue Jays bats erupt as Royals ace Johnny Cueto flops
The Toronto Blue Jays demise may have been exaggerated. After scoring three runs in the first two games combined, Toronto’s offense (or is it offence?) exploded for a 11-8 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Several factors contributed to the team’s surge at the plate. Being at home likely helped, as did the fact that the Blue Jays were probably due for a big game at the plate.
On top of that, Johnny Cueto’s return to his second-half form was a welcome sight for Blue Jays hitters. Cueto had trouble locating his pitches after the first inning, and Toronto took advantage. He was pulled after giving up eight earned runs over just two innings.
The Royals still hold a 2-1 lead in the series, but Cueto’s struggles complicate things moving forward. If some home cooking was all the Blue Jays needed in order to get going, the ALCS just got a lot more exciting.
• Ryan Goins went from goat in Game 2 to hero in Game 3. Goins singled in Toronto’s first two runs of the game in the second inning, putting the team ahead. Later, he added a solo shot to extend the lead. The infielder finished 2-for-4, with two runs scored and three RBIs at the plate. Not bad for a No. 9 hitter.
• On a night where many Blue Jays hitters came through at the plate, Troy Tulowitzki may have had the biggest hit. His three-run homer in the third inning really broke things open for Toronto, opening up the team’s lead. Tulo also singled, finishing 2-for-4, with two runs scored and three RBIs. Tulo was later ejected by umpire John Hirschbeck after arguing balls and strikes, but his contributions early in the game still make him a leading lad.
• Josh Donaldson also looked like himself at the plate. His RBI single in the second inning gave the Blue Jays some cushion, while his two-run homer in the third really punctuated Toronto’s dominance during the contest. Donaldson finished 2-for-4 at the plate, with one run scored and three RBIs.
• Johnny Cueto built up a lot of goodwill after dominating during Game 5 of the ALDS, but he gave it all back here. Cueto looked strong in the first inning, but had trouble locating his pitches in the second and third. You can’t do that against a team as dangerous as the Blue Jays, and Cueto paid dearly.
• Nobody on the Royals had a laughably awful game at the plate, but the entire offense struggled to get it going early. The team managed to put guys on base, but had trouble bringing them home until the ninth inning. Ultimately, the Royals managed four runs in the final inning, making the score look closer than it should have. Kansas City wound up stranding 15 runners during the contest. While the comeback attempt was impressive, the early struggles to drive in runs hurt Kansas City in the end.
Tulowitzki’s third inning blast stands out as one of the game’s biggest moments. Toronto lead 3-2 at the time but, given Kansas City’s propensity for comebacks, that lead hardly seemed safe. Tulo’s three-run shot in the third gave the Blue Jays a comfortable 6-2 lead. It seemed like that was the moment Blue Jays fans could finally breathe easy about this game.
Cueto’s start was historically awful.
• Cueto may not be fixed. The ace was acquired by Kansas City in order to be a dominant force in the postseason, but has struggled with his new club. It was thought that maybe those issues were over after Cueto turned in a dominant start in Game 5 of the ALDS, but that’s no longer the case. The Royals need Cueto to be himself if they hope to win the World Series, so this was a huge step back.
• After two down games, the Blue Jays bats are alive. Toronto has had a dominant offense all season, so this type of game should have been expected. Still, if the club can shake off the struggles from Games 1 and 2, this series is going to be tight.
Game 4 of the ALCS will take place Tuesday, October 20 at 4:00 p.m. ET. The contest will air on FS1 and Sportsnet. Chris Young (11-6, 3.06) will take on R.A. Dickey (11-11, 3.91) as the Blue Jays look to even the series.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
