BRONX, NY — The Blue Jays popped champagne in the visiting clubhouse of Yankee Stadium late Wednesday night and celebrated into early Thursday morning after defeating the Yankees, 5-2, in Game 4 of the American League Division Series, which closed the door on the best of five series, 3-1, to send Toronto to the American League Championship Series; the franchise’s first ALCS appearance since 2016 and eighth all-time.
With their win in Game 4 of the ALDS Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, the Blue Jays are heading to their first ALCS since 2016 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Ending the Yankees’ season in the process and eliminating their AL East division rival on their home turf in front of a sold-out Bronx crowd of 47,823, riled up from first pitch until the very end.
“We play for this, so for me and the team, it’s amazing,” Dominican superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said to Latino Sports while his teammates soaked him with beer and champagne as the Blue Jays were all goggled up and prepared for their ALDS-clinching festivities.
“I’m so happy for the organization. Now, the message is ‘keep going and believe in God.’”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., proving consistently why he is one of best players in the game, had a historic ALDS vs. the Yankees at the plate, batting .529 in the series – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
A historic night for all of Toronto, who now await their ALCS opponent, the Tigers or Mariners, currently battling it out in their own best of five ALDS with the series tied up at two and Game 5 scheduled for this Friday night, October 10th in Seattle.
But that is then, this is now.
What Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays, the No. 1 seed in the AL, displayed this series, is their pure offensive force as a team, chomping at the bit of each at bat—scoring 34 runs in the four games of the ALDS combined with 50 hits—nine for home runs as Guerrero Jr. (3) smashed a third of them.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s first inning home run in Game 3 of the ALDS Tuesday night in the Bronx, his third of the series – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
To put the offensive outputs into perspective, the Yankees compiled just 19 runs, recording a total of 34 hits while only four left the yard.
50 hits compared to 34, 34 runs compared to 19 and nine long balls vs. four.
Essentially, the numbers tell the story of this lopsided ALDS.
The Blue Jays scored a total of 34 runs in the four ALDS games vs. the Yankees, the fourth-most in MLB Postseason history through a team’s first four games – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And add in, the Blue Jays were not at full form, missing arguably their second-best hitter in shortstop Bo Bichette who was left off the team’s ALDS roster due to a left knee injury he’s still ramping himself back from.
“We make a lot of contact, that’s been evident throughout the year,” noted Blue Jays manager John Schneider of the team’s dynamic offense. “I’m going to deflect credit to hitting coaches—Pop (David Popkins) and Lou (Iannotti) and Hunter (Mense)—for guys going up there with a plan.”
The key-difference of the series in Schneider’s view?
“We put the ball in play when we needed to, and we struck guys out when we needed to, which is kind of what you’re shooting for.”
Including the regular season and postseason, the Blue Jays recorded 11 wins and six losses against the Yankees – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
A large portion of Toronto’s production at the plate came from the bat of their face of the franchise, Guerrero Jr., the $500 million man, finishing the series 9-17 with three HRs, nine RBI, two walks and an OPS of 1.609.
A thorn in the Yankees’ side each time he stepped in the batter’s box.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., inking a $500 million contract extension with the Blue Jays this past April, made for an impact in all four ALDS games vs. the Yankees – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“He’s a gift for this franchise, an amazing talent,” revealed José Berrios, a teammate of Guerrero Jr. since July of 2021, a time when the Puerto Rican right-hander was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.
“God blessed him with a lot of talent, so right now, we are all seeing it on the big stage and just enjoying it all.”
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