As for the playoff defeat, this is what hurt the Toronto Blue Jays the most.
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With a seven-point lead and the support of a jubilant exhausted crowd, the win in Game 2 felt like a virtual block in their wild card streak against Seattle.
The Mariners had other plans. He made a good comeback with a couple of four-point shots and won a resounding 10-9 in ninth.
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Instead of planning a decisive Game 3 on Sunday at Rogers Center, the Blue Jays had to consider a crushing defeat that ended the next season.
“We fought and fought,” the Blue Jays insider told Jordan Romano. “It just wasn’t good enough.”
Two important moments emerged in the fall of Saturday.
Tim Maiza replaced starter Kevin Gossman in the sixth inning and gave Carlos Santana a three-point homer.
A few innings later, JP Crawford lifted a Roman blooper in the shallow center court. Toronto winger George Springer and shortstop Bo Bichette collided during the game and three runs were completed.
Springer was kicked off the course on a golf cart while Bichette remained in the game. Manager John Schneider said Springer “was fine” but gave no details on the injury.
Toronto was eliminated from the wild card round for the second time in three years.
“It stinks now, but it will only make us better and stronger,” said receiver Danny Jensen. “Let’s go where we want to be”.
The Blue Jays have won 92 regular season games and qualified for the playoffs.
Toronto lost 22-11 to take the seed and home field advantage in the first round.
The Blue Jays were only able to give their hats to star Luis Castillo in a 4-0 defeat in Friday’s opening.
Seattle became the third team in MLB history to come back from seven points behind to win the post-season game. The Blue Jays could only try to find a positive path.
“We learned how to play a full season and play meaningful games and finish them in September,” said Matt Chapman, Toronto third baseman. “There are so many things we can be proud of.
“I hope we all use it as an inspiration to do better.”
The Blue Jays were preseason favorites headed for the World Series. The first half cost Charlie Montoyo his job as manager and Schneider replaced him on an interim basis.
A young core from ace Alec Manoah, who lost in Game 1, Bo Bichet, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and others got major repeats in the playoffs in a losing effort.
But for a team built to win now, more is expected in 2023 and beyond.
Chief Executive Ross Atkins stepped in on the trade deadline, but he didn’t move everyone. The Mariners have grown up leaving some great prospects for disembarking Castillo from the Cincinnati Reds, and the move has paid off.
Most of the key players of the Blue Jays are under contract. One notable free agent is Ross Stripling, who became a reliable starter following Hyun-Jin Ryu’s late-season injury.
Atkins also has the decision to face Schneider, who put his mark on the team after being promoted to bench manager. They produced excellent results in the second half before failing in the knockout stage.
“My message coming in the off season is as useless as it is now, it will make this group better,” said Schneider.
The next step for Seattle is a best-of-five division streak in the American League against seeded Houston Astros starting on Tuesday.
Since winning the ALDS in 2016, the Blue Jays have lost eight of their nine playoff games.