Springer's homer sets stage for walk-off heroics

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays, a team completely incapable of playing boring baseball, just keep showing that they can throw punches in bunches.

Tuesday night’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Red Sox was just the latest edition of Toronto’s thrilling high-wire act, ending with Raimel Tapia scratching and clawing his way to a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the 10th inning. Just two innings after the air was sucked out of Rogers Centre, it was rocking again.

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George Springer set this up with a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth with the Blue Jays down to their final out, but just like Monday’s win with Bo Bichette playing the role of hero, there were so many smaller moments that led up to this.

“This is who we are,” Springer said. “We’re a very, very good team from top to bottom. We all complement each other, understand each other’s roles and understand our roles individually. We all play as a team, and we’re all heading in the same direction.”

That direction is forward, but the Blue Jays like to make it a roller-coaster ride along the way.

“This team just comes at you,” said Kevin Gausman, who dazzled once again, extending his sensational start to ‘22. “They never feel like they’re out of it. We’re tough on teams.”

With Boston rallying to take a 5-2 lead in the eighth, the Blue Jays had zero momentum to speak of. Then, like only star-studded teams are capable of, the punches started to land. One, two, three, four, five.

1. Espinal scrapes the Blue Jays back -- 5-3
Before Tapia walked it off, he doubled in the ninth inning to get the ball rolling. It was Santiago Espinal, who’s already showing a knack for big moments this season, shooting a double to the opposite field to bring home the speedy Tapia. Still with no outs, it started to feel possible.

2. Springer blasts off -- 5-5
Career home run No. 200 for Springer was a no-doubter, sailing 423 feet to left-center. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, this was the type of moment the Blue Jays paid $150 million for. It’s also why Springer is such a strong performer in the postseason. His heart rate doesn’t seem to spike much in these moments.

“I’m not going to get a chance to play this game forever, so I might as well have fun and enjoy the moment,” Springer said. “I just don’t believe that I need to do too much. I know who’s up behind me, and I know what those guys can do. I just try to have fun and slow the game down.”

3. Romano holds the line -- 5-5
Closer Jordan Romano trotted in for the top of the 10th and did what he usually does, shutting down the Red Sox while stranding the automatic runner. After taking a sharp comebacker off his hip and making the play for the second out, Romano got J.D. Martinez swinging at strike three to end the inning, stranding the runner on third base and handing the advantage back to the Blue Jays.

4. Patience sets the stage -- 5-5

With Bichette starting as the Blue Jays’ automatic runner on second base in the bottom of the 10th, the Red Sox were happy to wave Vladimir Guerrero Jr. down to first base with a free pass. That brought Alejandro Kirk to the plate, and he quietly put together one of the most impressive at-bats of the game. Kirk worked a full count, and on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, took a low curveball for ball four, meaning all the Blue Jays needed was a ball in the air to the outfield to win.

5. Tapia plays the role of hero, his way -- 6-5

When Tapia swings the bat, he typically makes contact. He’s not Springer or Guerrero, but if you need a ball in play, hitters like Tapia and Kirk are fine options. Tapia battled, battled and battled some more, fouling off five balls in the nine-pitch at-bat.

“The moment I saw him fouling balls off, I said, ‘OK, he’s going to make contact here,’” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “I was hoping it was in the air. You’ve got to give him credit. That guy saw some tough pitches and fouled them off before he hit that one to left.”

On that ninth pitch, Tapia finally flipped a fly ball out to left, just deep enough to allow Bichette to score from third. As Bichette crossed home plate, Espinal was standing on the edge of the dirt, leaping into the air before Springer and the rest of the Blue Jays came pouring out of the dugout to mob Tapia.

“This is huge,” Springer said. “For us to understand what it take to come out on top in these games is big, especially for a stretch run, potentially.”