For a second time this post-season, Trey Yesavage earned a standing ovation from the Rogers Centre faithful as he walked off the mound.
On Sunday, in Game 6 of the ALCS, it was after 5.2 innings of seven-strikeout ball, as he limited the Seattle Mariners to just two runs and six hits on 87 pitches.
Making just his sixth MLB start (regular- and post-season), Yesavage dominated the Mariners early, punching out five of the first eight batters he faced.
"This was the most electric, energized crowd I've ever played in front of before, and the team rallied behind the fans, and they were a huge motivation for us," he said post-game.
With the outing, the 22-year-old rookie set the Blue Jays record for most strikeouts in his first three playoff starts with the team, according to Sportsnet Stats.
He ran into some trouble in the third and fourth innings, though, but relied on his defence to limit the damage. In both frames, he loaded the bases with one out before getting double plays to escape both jams unscathed.
"I saw the ball was smoked over to Vladdy, so I knew I had to get my butt over there," Yesavage said about forcing Cal Raleigh into a 3-6-1 in the third.
"I had no idea where the bag was, and I just thank the lord that he put me right on top of it, and the throw was right on the target, too."
Seattle finally got to him in the sixth, when Josh Naylor hit a two-out solo shot and Randy Arozarena singled, bringing John Schneider out of the dugout to turn to the bullpen.
Arozarena came around to score on a well-placed single by Eugenio Suarez against right-hander Louis Varland.
In three post-season outings, Yesavage now has a 3.60 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 15 innings for the Blue Jays. Yesavage took the ball in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series after struggling in Game 2. He took the loss in that game when the Mariners collected five runs against the righty in four-plus innings of work.
His first appearance of these playoffs came in Game 2 of the ALDS, when he held the New York Yankees hitless over 5.1 innings while striking out 11, a Toronto post-season record.
Safe to say he bounced back to top form with the Blue Jays' backs against the wall on Sunday.
