In Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Edinson Volquez held on despite control problems to throw six innings of shutout ball. In Game 5 on Wednesday, the Toronto Blue Jays finally opened the floodgates.
Troy Tulowitzki drove in three runs, Chris Colabello hit a home run and Marco Estrada threw a nearly flawless 7.2 innings as the Blue Jays staved off elimination with a 7-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. The series now heads back to Kansas City, Missouri, with the Royals ahead 3-2.
ESPN Stats & Info provided a look at the Blue Jays' ability to stay alive this postseason:
Blue Jays: won 4 straight potential elimination games
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2015
John Gibbons: 5th manager to win first 4 elimination games (1st since Terry Francona in 2004) (via @EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2015
Tulowitzki's three-run double came as part of a four-run sixth inning that blew up a game that had been a pitcher's duel up to that point.