Forget the craziness of Russell Martin's bizarre error in the seventh inning that allowed the go-ahead run to score. The story of this game was the inability of the Texas Rangers to make plays in key spots.
Rangers hand away the game
With a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Rangers were in position to win. But errors on three consecutive plays did them in.
The Elias Sports Bureau notes that the Rangers became the first team to make three errors in an inning in a winner-take-all postseason game. They’re the first team to make an error against three straight batters in a postseason game since the 2003 Athletics did so in a loss against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Two of the errors were by Elvis Andrus, who had the third-most among shortstops with 22 in the regular season. Andrus rated as a steady defender from 2011-13 with 25 defensive runs saved, but he had minus-14 in 2014 and minus-1 this season.
Jays made the plays
Take Martin’s error out of the equation and the Toronto Blue Jays played a solid defensive game.
Center fielder Kevin Pillar made a diving catch to take away a hit in the fourth inning. Pillar had 22 defensive runs saved in 2015, fifth-most among outfielders in 2015. His 14 Web Gems ranked second in the majors, trailing only Nolan Arenado’s 17. Pillar had nine plays that rated as the No. 1 Web Gem of the day. Next-most was Kevin Kiermaier with five.
Second baseman Ryan Goins made a sliding backhand play on a ground ball hit by Andrus with a runner on second and two outs to end the sixth inning.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson made a bare-handed play to throw out Delino DeShields with a man on second and two outs in the seventh, right before Martin’s play. Donaldson has the second-most defensive runs saved among third basemen in the last two seasons, trailing only Arenado.
And it all led to …
The errors set up Jose Bautista’s go-ahead three-run home run against Rangers reliever Sam Dyson. It was the third go-ahead home run in the seventh inning or later of a postseason game in Blue Jays history. The others were hit by Ed Sprague (1992 World Series against the Braves) and Joe Carter (1993 World Series against the Phillies).
It was the first go-ahead home run in the seventh inning or later of a winner-take-all postseason game since Yadier Molina homered in the ninth inning for the Cardinals against the Mets in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS.
Both of Bautista's home runs this postseason -- including his Game 5 homer -- have come on pitches that were at least 97 mph. Since the 2009 postseason, Bautista is the only player to have multiple home runs on 97 mph pitches.