TORONTO — A 22-year playoff absence ended Thursday at the Rogers Centre, but not the way Blue Jays fans had envisioned. Millions of Canadian baseball fans had waited for another chance for October glory, with players like Jose Bautista, David Price and Josh Donaldson following the path established by Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar and John Olerud.
The last postseason game here was Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, which was punctuated by Carter’s Series-ending home run in the ninth inning.
On Thursday, 49,834 fans jammed their way into the Rogers Centre to welcome back playoff baseball in Game 1 of the American League division series against the Texas Rangers.