Canadian MLB playoff news and notes - October 14

North Delta Blue Jays alum James Paxton (Ladner, BC) allowed one run in 2 1/3 innings for the New York Yankees in his start in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Sunday. Photo: USA Today

October 14, 2019

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

- There was much speculation that Canadian James Paxton (Ladner, BC) was tipping his pitches in his start in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Sunday. The New York Yankees left-hander was pulled after just 2 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on four hits and walked two batters in the contest that the Astros eventually won 3-2 on a walk-off home run by Carlos Correa in the 11th inning. Both Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Paxton told reporters after the game that they didn’t believe that he was tipping his pitches. “I don’t think they were getting anything,” said Paxton. With that said, it has been widely reported that the Astros did pick up on Paxton’s pitches in an April 10th start in which they pounded him for five runs on eight hits in four innings. In two post-season starts this year, Paxton has tossed seven innings and allowed four runs on nine hits while striking out 11.

- That was former Toronto Blue Jays’ 20-game winner J.A. Happ that allowed the walk-off home run to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the 11th inning on Sunday. That was Happ’s second appearance out of the Yankees’ bullpen this postseason. He previously pitched a scoreless inning in the Yankees’ 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the ALDS.

- Two ex-Blue Jays appeared in the contest for the Astros. Reliever Roberto Osuna hurled 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, while infielder Aledmys Diaz walked in a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the ninth. Also, Jake Marisnick, a third round Blue Jays pick in 2009, started in centre field for the Astros and went 0-for-1. Meanwhile, two ex-Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion and Gio Urshela were in the starting lineup for the Yankees and each went 0-for-4.

- Speaking of the Blue Jays, it was four years ago today that Jose Bautista's bat flip, three-run home run in the seventh inning propelled them to a 6-3, ALDS-clinching win over the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. The home run topped off one of the craziest innings in major league history.

- And 27 years ago today, the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland A's 9-2 in Game 6 of the ALCS to become the first Canadian team to advance to the World Series. Outfielder Candy Maldonado belted a three-run home run and caught the final out in left field. You can watch it below.