Nick Turchiaro/USA Today Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 1993 with a big win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. What seemed like a tight game suddenly turned wild in the top of seventh inning when umps gave the Rangers the go-ahead run because of a bizarre interference call. The Blue Jays protested the call and fans went wild, throwing debris onto the field. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Jose Bautista launched a massive home run, putting the Jays ahead 6-3, after a series of errors put two runners on base. Bautista’s celebratory bat toss following the homer incensed the Rangers, leading to a bench-clearing near-brawl.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals held off the Houston Astros 7-2 on Wednesday to advance to the ALCS for the second consecutive season. Kansas City’s Johnny Cueto threw just 91 pitches over 8 innings while giving up two hits, two runs, and striking out eight. The Royals will face the Blue Jays in Game 1 on Friday.