After twice being on the brink of playoff extinction, the Blue Jays are now one win away from the American League Championship Series.
Backed by early Josh Donaldson, Chris Colabello and Kevin Pillar home runs, R.A. Dickey and David Price combined for 7 2/3 innings as Toronto defeated the Texas Rangers 8-4 to tie their AL Division Series at two games apiece.
The deciding Game 5 goes Wednesday at the Rogers Centre, with hope of a happy ending for Toronto's first foray into the playoffs in 22 years. The home team has yet to win in the series.
Price relieved Dickey with two outs in the fifth and the Jays leading 7-1, meaning Marcus Stroman will likely start Wednesday in what could be a rematch of Game 2 against Cole Hamels.
Price threw 50 pitches over three innings, giving up three runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna finished it off for the Jays.
"Sometimes the best way to win games is to not let teams back into it," said Toronto manager John Gibbons when asked why he turned to Price out of the bullpen. "I told Price if we get you up [in the bullpen] you're going in."
"[Brett] Cecil down, [Aaron] Loup out today, it was hard for me to do, but I thought that was the best way to win the game."
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