Stroman stellar for Jays in big-time spot
TORONTO -- Marcus Stroman rose to the occasion in Toronto's 6-3 win in Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Rangers on Wednesday at Rogers Centre. Pitching in the first postseason elimination game of his career, the right-hander helped Toronto advance to the ALCS by logging six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts and a walk. He fired 98 pitches before exiting with the game tied at 2.
He was replaced by Aaron Sanchez when the Blue Jays took the field for the seventh inning.
In the top of the first, Stroman gave up a leadoff double to Delino DeShields, who would later score to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead. Stroman allowed another run on a solo shot by Shin-Soo Choo in the third, but he settled in the rest of the way to keep things close.
The Blue Jays tallied a run in the third to make it 2-1 before Edwin Encarnacion homered in the bottom of the sixth to tie things up before Stroman exited.