Photo Credit: Chris Young/AP
There is something about baseball in October that makes every play seem so important. One of the most memorable moments from this year’s MLB playoffs was courtesy of Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista. Bautista and the Blue Jays were facing the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series. During Game 5, things started looking bleak for the home crowd in Toronto during the seventh inning.
The game was tied at two apiece with Shin-Soo Choo up at bat. Blue Jays catcher threw the ball back to pitcher Aaron Sanchez, but the ball hit Choo’s bat. Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor who was standing on third base trotted home after the ball landed between the foul line and the third baseman. Odor and the rest of the Rangers bench thought the ball was live. The umpires huddled together and agreed that the ball was live and that the run did count putting the Rangers up 3-2.
The Blue Jays tied the game at the bottom of the inning, however, the 25th most memorable moment came with Bautista at the plate. With the chance to advance to the ALCS on the line, Bautista ripped the ball out of the park to put his team up 6-3. In a moment of pure adrenaline and excitement, Bautista watched his home run and did the most epic bat flip in recent history. Rogers Centre exploded as they watched Bautista round the bases. Edwin Encarnacion who was next at the plate tried to quiet the crowd, but it was impossible. Toronto fans waited so long for something to cheer about and they were not going to let this moment pass them by.
