After sweeping their respective division series, the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians will square off in the ALCS starting Friday night at Progressive Field.
This matchup may not have the history of bad blood that surrounded the Blue Jays’ series with the Texas Rangers but there are still a number of unique storylines to monitor, with former Indians executives Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins at the forefront.
The two teams provided some instant classics when they met in the regular season as Cleveland took the season series by a slim 4-3 margin. Here’s a look at how each of those seven games played out.
Game 1 – June 30 at Rogers Centre
Result: Indians 4, Blue Jays 1
Carlos Carrasco, who will not be available to pitch in this series for the Indians, held the Blue Jays to just three hits over 7.1 innings of work. R.A. Dickey surrendered two home runs in the contest, but was otherwise solid over his seven frames.
Game 2 – July 1 at Rogers Centre
Result: Indians 2, Blue Jays 1 (19)
This was a wild one. Playing in front of a packed house on Canada Day, the Blue Jays ultimately fell in the 19th inning in a game that saw Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins log time on the pitcher’s mound. Things were intense right off the bat as Edwin Encarnacion was ejected in the first inning for arguing balls and strikes.
That wasn’t the only source of drama as Canadian Russell Martin was tossed in the 14th.
Game 3 – July 2 at Rogers Centre
Result: Blue Jays 9, Indians 6
With both bullpens exhausted from the 19-inning marathon the day before, neither starter was able to provide the length John Gibbons and Terry Francona were looking for. Cleveland’s Zach McAllister lasted only one inning while Toronto’s Marco Estrada was done after five. The Blue Jays broke out for three runs in the eighth to get back in the win column.
Game 4 – July 3 at Rogers Centre
Result: Blue Jays 17, Indians 1
This one was over before it really got started, which is surprising given that Corey Kluber was on the hill for the Tribe. The ace right-hander couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning, surrendering five earned runs in the process. The Blue Jays put up an eight-spot in the sixth inning off the overworked Cleveland relief corps, highlighted by a three-run homer from Troy Tulowitzki.
Game 5 – Aug. 19 at Progressive Field
Result: Indians 3, Blue Jays 2
The Blue Jays struck quickly thanks to a two-run shot from Martin in the first inning, but they couldn’t solve Trevor Bauer after that. Taking a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth, Cleveland won the game in walk-off fashion thanks to an inside-the-park home run from rookie Tyler Naquin. Toronto outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. failed to back up Michael Saunders on the play, enabling Naquin to complete his dash all the way around the bases.
Game 6 – Aug. 20 at Progressive Field
Result: Blue Jays 6, Indians 5
Aaron Sanchez turned in a rare less-than-stellar performance, but the Blue Jays backed him with a trio of long balls. One day after blowing a save, Roberto Osuna tossed a perfect ninth inning to lock up the victory for the visitors.
Game 7 – Aug. 21 at Progressive Field
Result: Indians 3, Blue Jays 2
Marcus Stroman and Kluber went toe-to-toe in this one, combining for 17 strikeouts. With the Blue Jays nursing a one-run lead in the eighth inning, Gibbons called on Brett Cecil, who served up a decisive two-run homer to Jose Ramirez.
