You didn't seriously think the Jays were gonna go down without a fight, did you? After scoring 10+ runs against the Yankees in the first two games? Absolutely not.
I think the reaction to the quiet bats in the first two games of the ALCS got to the Jays' head. So of course, Game 3 you have Vlad Jr., Alejandro Kirk, Andres Gimenez, George Springer and Addison Barger all going yard, totaling 8 runs against George Kirby and 14 runs in general. You rile them up, they let loose. This was a cathartic game for everyone worried the Jays would waste their offense on the Yankees series. Absolutely not. This team can still come through and chase the Mariners even if they strike first. This is a game where the Mariners got production from Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, and it still felt futile because the rest of the team didn't do a great deal.
The key to this was also the best starting performance for Toronto of the ALCS so far, courtesy of Shane Bieber, still capable of going through in big games. After the Julio homer he locked in, going 6 innings and only giving up 5 hits while striking out 8. It was the dominance they needed to keep the M's from coming back or making this one interesting. No matter how well Max Scherzer can do tomorrow night [and...honestly the jury's still out], Bieber noticed a needed win and made things interesting in Seattle.
I still think the M's have the right amount of leverage, and could strike back big time in Game 4. I think this'll be the one where they let Bryan Woo at 'em.....right???
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