I have already accepted the possibility that both my teams could go down in this round. It's very likely. The Phillies aren't playing well at all, and the Yanks still have the odds against them. If that happens, I'm very surely going to root for the Mariners all the way. Several reasons behind that. My uncle's a lifelong Ms fan, it's a hard luck club that's never been to a World Series, and it was cemented by this game because MAN this team is awesome.
When J.P. Crawford can break a tie with a homer...that's how you know this team is different. When Logan Gilbert finally clicks into place after struggling most of the year. When the game is sealed with yet another Raleigh homer. There's something infectious about this team, and given the right momentum, which they're clearly gaining, they could do something incredible this year. I'm honestly hear for it. Not that the Tigers winning wouldn't be exciting, but the M's are just the better team, and they clearly deserve it more.
Still not a runaway, and the Tigers could come roaring back in Game 4 like they did in the ninth, but I'm very much behind Seattle at this point.
As for the other guys who won tonight? I have no idea how it happened. I was half-expecting to eulogize them tonight. The way Vladdie got ahead of us again, the way the umps wasted our challenges. It just looked like it wasn't gonna happen. After the 4-run third, my dad gave up.
...meaning he missed the comeback. Oh man, I don't know what he's gonna think when he hears.
With Bieber not 100%, we were always a threat to come back. With the Jays bullpen as flighty as it's been, we were always gonna chip away. We just needed the right timing. And tonight, Aaron Judge had the right timing. He's been very good at the plate this postseason, but the long ball hadn't shown up yet. Tonight it did. A massive 3-run bomb that tied the game and cemented the comeback. It was everything I'd dreamed of, and it was absolutely huge. Louie Varland may never live that down. And then the runs kept coming, with Chisholm, Wells and Rice adding to the fun. Then somehow the Yanks' pen clicked as well, with Devin Williams and David Bender completely silencing the Jays by the end, including a brutal whiff of Guerrero.
Even through this, the Jays did a lot right, like catching Judge in a rundown, or some plays Varsho had in the outfield. But tonight, the errors by Barger, Schneider and multiple outfielders were enough to blow the game. For once, the Yankees were capitalizing on opposing errors. And for once, everything came together for this damned, doomed Yankee team.
Winning 1 against this Jays team was a triumph. Now they're scared. Now it's not guaranteed anymore. Tomorrow night might be Schlittler against low rest Yesavage, and that could be interesting. Maybe we can hit his splitter if the pressure's on. Maybe...there's still a chance.
[As for the Phils? I dunno, man. I'm not sure if they have a comeback like this in 'em. Would love to be proven wrong though.]
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