Kevin Gausman leads Blue Jays to third straight win in final start before deadline

TORONTO – Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees was on the verge of unravelling on the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning. Kevin Gausman had cruised through five and led 2-0 when an Anthony Volpe double, Austin Wells single and Trent Grisham loaded the bases for Aaron Judge.

Unfazed, Gausman rallied to strike out the AL MVP for the first out and as gutsy as that was, what came next required even more mettle. Rather than giving in, he issued a four-pitch walk to Cody Bellinger that brought home a run, but ultimately helped the Blue Jays escape the inning with the lead, as Ben Rice popped out before Louis Varland came on to blow away Giancarlo Stanton. They broke the game open in the seventh and eventually won 10-1.