TORONTO -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. owns this city. Now, he owns this series.
Guerrero launched a grand slam in the Blue Jays’ 13-7 win over the Yankees on Sunday in Game 2 of the American League Division Series to put Toronto up 9-0, a defining moment in a career we are suddenly -- and finally -- seeing erupt on the biggest stage in baseball.
When Guerrero’s swing uncoiled on the fastball from Will Warren, he just stood and stared. The ball soared to left field, a no-doubter, just like those famous home runs from José Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in the postseason, moments which defined an entire era of baseball in Toronto. Now, Guerrero has his, the exclamation point on two historic days of baseball.
The Blue Jays’ 23 runs are the most by any team through the first two games of the postseason in MLB history and at one point they scored 20 consecutive runs between Yankee runs -- the first time a team has done that within a postseason series, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Vladdy has been in the middle of all of it.
“He's our guy. He's our dude,” said manager John Schneider. “I said it before the series, I want him to play free and confident and loose, but at the same time be locked in. He's pretty locked in right now.”
By the time Guerrero tossed his bat back towards the Blue Jays’ dugout and started to jog down the line, Rogers Centre was louder than it’s been since those home runs a decade ago. Already in Game 2, fans had been chanting “Vladdy! Vladdy! Vladdy!” each time he stepped to the plate, begging their superstar to give them another signature moment after his home run to open the Blue Jays’ Game 1 win. Well, how about the first grand slam in franchise postseason history?
The chants weren’t done, though.
As Guerrero slid on the home run jacket and barreled through the Blue Jays’ dugout, nearly taking off a few arms along the way, the chants kept raining down. It felt like the game couldn’t begin again until he popped out the other end of the dugout. When Guerrero finally took his curtain call, he stood and soaked it in for a moment, waving his fist into the air, demanding more from a crowd that had just demanded so much from him and been rewarded.
“It happened to my dad a few times and to my teammates. Tonight, it was for me,” Guerrero said through a club interpreter. “It was really great.”
Guerrero is already 6-for-9 in the ALDS with two home runs and six RBIs. He’s made standout defensive plays. He’s the heart and soul and attitude of this team again.
There’s always been something else about Guerrero, though, that makes him the most beloved baseball player in this city and in this country. Guerrero has embraced the Blue Jays -- and playing in Canada -- in a way few stars have over the years. In a market desperate to feel that, Guerrero and his 14-year, $500 million contract made it official. He’s the face of the Blue Jays, maybe forever, and moments like this are what 40 million Canadians have been waiting for.
Just before he touched third base, Guerrero looked into his dugout, pointed to the logo on his chest and then to the dirt.
“We play for the city,” Guerrero said. “We play to win.”
There’s a new sense of determination and focus to Guerrero this October, something beyond what we’ve seen before. Those who have been around him for years can feel it. He’s always said that his goal is to win a World Series ring to give to his father, who never won one in his Hall of Fame career. Then, Vladdy can win a second ring for himself.
That in mind, Guerrero has developed his own catchphrase during this run. Each time he’s soaked in champagne, we’ve heard it, and the Blue Jays are one win away from him saying this again.
“The job’s not done yet. It's not over,” Guerrero said Sunday. “We got to keep working hard and keep working as a team together and focus on trying to win the third game. We gotta go out there and give it all we have, regardless, to hopefully win a championship.”
He’s right. The job’s not finished, but the beast has finally awoken, and through two games, the ALDS belongs to Vladdy.