They call double plays a pitcher's best friend.
But on Sunday night, the double-play ball might have meant a little more to a whole country.
Toronto Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage faced bases-loaded jams in back-to-back innings in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, and both times, he escaped the frame unscathed.
Starting in the third, Yesavage allowed a leadoff walk to Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford and a one-out single off the wall to Leo Rivas before issuing a free pass to Julio Rodriguez, bringing MVP candidate Cal Raleigh to the plate.
Not exactly the ideal situation for any pitcher.
But Yesavage got Raleigh to hit a groundball to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a first-pitch splitter. Guerrero then tossed to Andres Gimenez at second base, who returned the ball to a covering Yesavage at first base — sending the Rogers Centre into a frenzy as the Blue Jays kept their 2-0 lead.
A similar script played out for Toronto in the fourth.
After Jorge Polanco lined out to begin the inning, Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena singled. Then, after a wild pitch advanced the two, Eugenio Suarez worked a walk, presenting yet another bases-loaded, one-out situation.
This time, however, it was Crawford up to the plate, and he wasn't first-pitch swinging.
Instead, Crawford took two strikes, then grounded softly to Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who put a little flair into his toss to Gimenez at second as the shortstop threw onto first for another inning-ending out.
It is the first time in post-season history that a team has grounded into bases-loaded double plays in back-to-back innings, according to Sportsnet Stats.
To make matters worse for the Mariners, they ended the fifth inning with yet another double play. But this time, there was just a runner on first when Rodriguez hit into a 6-4-3.
