2022 American League Wild Card Series
2022 American League Wild Card Series | |||||||||||||
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Teams | |||||||||||||
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Dates | October 7–8 | ||||||||||||
Television | ESPN (Game 1) ESPN2 (Game 2) | ||||||||||||
TV announcers | Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville and Jesse Rogers | ||||||||||||
Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
Radio announcers | Dave O'Brien and Marly Rivera | ||||||||||||
Umpires | Ted Barrett (crew chief), Doug Eddings, Adam Hamari, Hunter Wendelstedt, Chad Whitson, Quinn Wolcott | ||||||||||||
Teams | |||||||||||||
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Dates | October 7–8 | ||||||||||||
Television | Canada: Sportsnet[1] United States: ESPN | ||||||||||||
TV announcers | Buck Martinez, Pat Tabler and Hazel Mae (Sportsnet)[1] Dave Flemming, Jessica Mendoza, Tim Kurkjian and Coley Harvey (ESPN) | ||||||||||||
Radio | ESPN | ||||||||||||
Radio announcers | Dan Shulman[1] and Gregg Olson | ||||||||||||
Umpires | Lance Barrett, Andy Fletcher, Brian Knight, Jerry Meals (crew chief), Roberto Ortiz, Todd Tichenor | ||||||||||||
The 2022 American League Wild Card Series were two best-of-three playoff series in Major League Baseball (MLB) that determined the participating teams of the 2022 American League Division Series (ALDS). Both Wild Card Series began on October 7, with Game 2s scheduled for October 8. ESPN broadcast both Wild Card Series in the United States, and games were also broadcast by ESPN Radio.[2] For the first time, Canadian rightsholder Sportsnet – a sibling property to the Toronto Blue Jays under Rogers Communications – was allowed to produce its own broadcast of a Blue Jays postseason series; in previous years, it was required to simulcast a U.S. or MLB International broadcast.[1]
The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to advance to the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays to advance to the ALDS against the Houston Astros.
Background
On March 10, Major League Baseball changed the postseason structure for the first time since 2012, adding a sixth team to the postseason in each league. MLB also added a wild card series where the lowest-seeded division winner, and three wild card teams (each seeded according to regular season record), will play a best-of-three Wild Card round, with the higher seed hosting all three games. The third-seed will play the sixth-seed, and the fourth-seed will play the fifth-seed. This allowed the top two seeds in each league to receive a bye into the Division Series. The postseason structure is similar to the format MLB temporarily used in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there were no first-round byes for the top two seeds in 2020.
The Cleveland Guardians (92–70) clinched the American League Central on September 25.[3] As the worst American League division winner in terms of record, they were locked into the third seed. The Guardians are making their first postseason appearance since 2020 and their first under the Guardians moniker. They are hosting the Tampa Bay Rays (86–76), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30.[4] The Rays are making their fourth straight postseason appearance and eighth overall in franchise history, with all eight coming since 2008. In six regular-season meetings in 2022, the Guardians bested the Rays four games to two, including two out of three less than a week ago in Cleveland.[5]
The Toronto Blue Jays (92–70) clinched a postseason berth on September 29 and secured home-field advantage in the wild card round as the best wild card team (non-division winner) in terms of record on October 3.[6]After missing out on the postseason by one game last year, the Blue Jays are making their first appearance since 2020 and accomplished back-to-back 90-win seasons for the first time since 1992 and 1993, which was the seasons they repeated as champions. They are hosting the 1977-expansion cousins Seattle Mariners (90–72), who clinched a postseason berth on September 30.[7] The Mariners are making their first postseason appearance since 2001, ending the longest postseason drought in North American professional sports.[8] The Mariners won the regular-season series five to two over the Blue Jays in 2022, which included a four-game sweep in July in Seattle. Despite handling Toronto for those seven games, the Mariners only outscored the Blue Jays 26–21 on the season.[9]
As the top two seeds, the Houston Astros (106–56) and New York Yankees (99–63) earned a bye from the wild card round.[10]
Matchups
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Cleveland won the series, 2–0.
Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
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1 | October 7 | Tampa Bay Rays – 1, Cleveland Guardians – 2 | Progressive Field | 2:17 | 30,741 |
2 | October 8 | Tampa Bay Rays – 0, Cleveland Guardians – 1 (15) | Progressive Field | 4:57 | 34,971 |
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners
Seattle won the series, 2–0.
Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
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1 | October 7 | Seattle Mariners – 4, Toronto Blue Jays – 0 | Rogers Centre | 3:01 | 47,402 |
2 | October 8 | Seattle Mariners – 10, Toronto Blue Jays – 9 | Rogers Centre | 4:15 | 47,156 |
Cleveland vs. Tampa Bay
This was the second postseason match-up between Cleveland and Tampa Bay. The two teams previously met in the 2013 American League Wild Card Game when Tampa Bay defeated Cleveland 4–0.[11]
Game 1
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Tampa Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Shane Bieber (1–0) LP: Shane McClanahan (0–1) Sv: Emmanuel Clase (1) Home runs: TB: José Siri (1) CLE: José Ramírez (1) Attendance: 30,741 Boxscore |
Game 1 featured a pitching duel between Cy Young candidates Shane Bieber and Shane McClanahan. The game was scoreless until a José Siri solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, which would immediately be topped by a José Ramírez two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Bieber went 7+2⁄3, only throwing 99 pitches on the day while not allowing a hit until the fifth inning.[12] Two runs would be all the Guardians needed as Emmanuel Clase closed the game with a perfect ninth, giving the All-Star closer his first career postseason save.
At a brisk two hours and 17 minutes, it was the shortest postseason game since Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS between the Braves and Astros.[13]
Game 2
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||
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Tampa Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Cleveland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
WP: Sam Hentges (1–0) LP: Corey Kluber (0–1) Home runs: TB: None CLE: Oscar González (1) Attendance: 34,971 Boxscore |
With 14 innings scoreless for both teams, this was the longest scoreless postseason game in MLB history.[14][15] In the bottom of the 15th inning, Oscar González hit a walk-off home run off former Cleveland pitcher Corey Kluber to end the game and win the American League Wild Card Series.[16] It is Cleveland's first postseason series win since the 2016 American League Championship Series. For Tampa Bay, the walk-off series-ending loss was their seventh straight loss (regular season and postseason).
Toronto vs. Seattle
This was the first postseason match-up between Toronto and Seattle.
Game 1
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Seattle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Toronto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Luis Castillo (1–0) LP: Alek Manoah (0–1) Home runs: SEA: Cal Raleigh (1) TOR: None Attendance: 47,402 Boxscore |
In his first-ever postseason plate appearance, star outfielder Julio Rodríguez was hit by an Alek Manoah fastball. Later in the inning, Eugenio Suárez flipped a line drive down the right field line for an RBI double scoring Rodríguez. Cal Raleigh then worked a full count before hitting a home run over the right field fence to give the Mariners a 3–0 in the top of the first. Suarez again added a run when he drove in Rodríguez on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth. Four runs would be all Mariners ace Luis Castillo needed as the big trade deadline acquisition twirled a shutout over 7+1⁄3 innings, striking out five and allowing just six hits. Castillo was the first ever Mariners pitcher to throw at least seven scoreless innings in a postseason game.[17]
Andres Munoz relieved Castillo in the eighth and finished off the game for Seattle with a five-out performance, giving the team their first postseason victory since Game 3 of the 2001 American League Championship Series.[18] For the Blue Jays, George Springer and Matt Chapman each had two hits, while Toronto relievers combined for 3+1⁄3 scoreless innings after Manoah exited the game.
Game 2
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Seattle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Toronto | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Andrés Muñoz (1–0) LP: Jordan Romano (0–1) Home runs: SEA: Carlos Santana (1) TOR: Teoscar Hernández 2 (2) Attendance: 47,156 Boxscore |
Robbie Ray, a Cy Young award winner for Toronto a year ago, faced off against his old team in Game 2. Opposite him was Kevin Gausman, who was brought in during the off-season to essentially replace Ray. The Blue Jays got on the board first with a two-run home run by Teoscar Hernández in the bottom of the second inning. In the bottom of the third, Vlad Guerrero Jr. drove in the first run of his postseason career to extend Toronto's lead to 3–0. Teoscar Hernández then added another home run to give Toronto a 4–0 lead. Robbie Ray was lifted after giving up the solo shot to Hernández in the fourth.
The Mariners did not score until the fifth inning, which was also the inning they got their first hit. Adam Frazier singled to end the no-hitter and Carlos Santana immediately hit a double to give Seattle runners on second and third with no outs. However, Gasuman would get out of the jam allowing just one run. With the score now 4–1, Toronto exploded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs against Mariners' middle reliever Paul Sewald.
Backed by an 8–1 lead, Gasuman allowed three straight singles to load the bases with no out. He struck out Mitch Haniger and got Adam Frazier to pop out before being removed for reliever Tim Mayza. Seattle would get on the board this inning with a Mayza wild pitch and then a three-run home run from Carlos Santana to cut the lead down to 8–5. No one scored again until the bottom of the seventh when the Blue Jays extended their lead by a run on a Danny Jansen single scoring Matt Chapman.
Seattle responded in the top of the eighth inning with four straight batters reaching base and cutting the score to 9–6. With the bases loaded again, Toronto's closer Jordan Romero (who was brought in to relieve Anthony Bass with runners on first and second with no outs) struck out Carlos Santana and Dylan Moore before George Springer and Bo Bichette collided on a bloop bases-clearing double by J.P. Crawford to improbably tie the game at nine. Springer got the worse of the collision and had to be carted off the field. With momentum on their side, the Mariners brought in flame throwing set-up man Andrés Muñoz and he pitched a clean bottom of the eighth against the heart of the Blue Jays order. The Mariners took the lead in the top of the ninth on a Adam Frazier double scoring Cal Raleigh, who also doubled earlier in the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, rookie reliever George Kirby worked around a Matt Chapman one-out walk to earn the first save of his career and send the Mariners to the American League Division Series, where they will play their division rival, the Houston Astros.[19]
The Mariners comeback was the second largest in MLB postseason history.[20]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Laskaris, Adam (October 3, 2022). "Buck Martinez to lead Sportsnet's Blue Jays' playoff broadcasts". Daily Hive. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ "MLB announces 2022 playoff schedule". MLB.com.
- ^ Crow, Ted (September 28, 2022). "Cleveland Guardians clinch Central title, looking for more: Crowquill". cleveland.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
- ^ Berry, Adam. "'First step' complete: Resilient Rays punch ticket to postseason". MLB.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (October 4, 2022). "AL wild card picture starting to clear: Guardians vs. Rays matchup likely". cleveland. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Matheson, Keegan. "'It means everything': Toronto enjoys delayed celebration". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Minasian, Isabelle (October 1, 2022). "Dear Tim". Lookout Landing. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Axisa, Mike. "Mariners eliminated: Longest postseason drought in North American pro sports reaches 20 years". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Bannon, Mitch. "Series Set: Blue Jays to Face Mariners in Wild Card Round". Sports Illustrated Toronto Blue Jays News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Waldstein, David (September 28, 2022). "Yankees Clinch a First-Round Bye as Judge's Wait Continues". The New York Times.
- ^ "Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians Box Score, October 2, 2013". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Rays @ Guardians". stories.mlb.com.
- ^ Axisa, Mike. "Four takeaways from Guardians-Rays Wild Card Game 1". CBSSports.com.
- ^ Ridenour, Marla (October 8, 2022). "Guardians-Rays AL Wild Card Game 2 live: Longest scoreless game in playoff history". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
- ^ Simon, Andrew (October 8, 2022). "The longest scoreless postseason game belongs to ..." MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Bell, Mandy (October 8, 2022). "Gonzalez sends Guardians to ALDS with walk-off HR". MLB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
- ^ "Mariners @ Blue Jays". stories.mlb.com.
- ^ Morik, Ryan (October 7, 2022). "Luis Castillo's gem gives Mariners win in first playoff game since 2001". Fox News. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
- ^ "Mariners vs. Blue Jays - Game Recap - October 8, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com.
- ^ Divish, Ryan (October 8, 2022). "Mariners complete wild comeback, beat Blue Jays to advance to ALDS". The Seattle Times.
External links
- 2022 Major League Baseball season
- Cleveland Guardians postseason
- Seattle Mariners postseason
- Tampa Bay Rays postseason
- Toronto Blue Jays postseason
- Major League Baseball Wild Card Series
- October 2022 sports events in Canada
- October 2022 sports events in the United States
- 2022 in sports in Ohio
- 2020s in Cleveland
- 2022 in Toronto