Fernando Valenzuela and Curt Schilling were the only two pitchers to shutout the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays.
The Jays, if they had a weakness, it was against left-handers that season. There record was below .500 (22-25). So the The Baltimore Orioles must have suspected the Jays would struggle against lefties. They got Fernando in the off-season.
Having lost a tough 3-2 decision vs. the Jays on May 7th of that season, Fernando had it even more the next time he faced Toronto.
His record was only 2-7, but he was a lefty. So it was troubled times ahead for the Jays. June 30th, 1993 was a tough night for the Jays and their fans. But almost 3 years earlier, both starting pitchers on this night were involved in something amazing. I'll get to that later.
In the May 7th start, the Jays could only get 6 hits of Valenzuela in 8 innings. They would get only 6 more in 9 innings on this day. With that screwball of his really breaking, the Jays had trouble.
The O's got a run in the bottom of the first off Toronto starter, Dave Stewart. It was actually one of Stew's old teammates, Harold Baines, who drove in the first run.
Stew settled down for a time after that. But the Jays were screwed with that 1 run against.
Amazingly enough, the Jays got half of their hits in the top of the 2nd, as three straight singles loaded the bases. But Darnell Coles popped out and Pat Borders hit into a double play. The Jays had just squandered their best chance to win the game.
I remember being frustrated on this night. Even as a 13-year old, I knew how good Valenzuela was. I had read about the 1981 World Series.
But I was amazed. Having not played in the majors in 1992 (Fernando was in Mexico) and having a record of 44-57 since 1986, I thought he was past it.
Well, not tonight. But this was a special night. Stewart and Valenzuela were joined at the hip, to tell you the truth.
Teammates they were, on the 1981 Dodgers. And then on opposite sides in the 1988 World Series. Fernando was left off the postseason roster that year as his arm hadn't been up to the task.
Then there was June 29th, 1990. Stewart, up against the Jays, tossed a shutout. It was a no-hitter. Later that same day, it was Valenzuela who went out and got one of his own.
Stewart was keeping up with his old pal tonight. But Harold Baines scored two more with a double in the bottom of the 5th. Stewart was out of there after this inning. Woody Williams came in and the Orioles scored 3 more in the bottom of the 7th.
The Jays didn't do much more the rest of the way. Valenzuela didn't walk a batter, and fanned only 2. But it just seemed like the Jays timing was off. That screwball does wonders, eh?
So in any event, the Jays later made it to the World Series. And up 3-1 against the Phillies, I honestly thought they were going to wrap it up in game 5. Right there in Philly.
If they had done that, no Carter walk-off.
In game 4, the Jays had scored 15 runs. But the next game, it was nothing but 0's.
Schilling just seemed to have it on this day. And so did his defence, turning 3 double plays. The Phillies had no intentions of losing the Series at home. And Toronto starter Juan Guzman wasn't exactly that bad on this night for the Jays.
A walk to Lenny Dykstra to lead off the game meant trouble for the Jays. A steal, with the throw going into centerfield, and the Phillies were that close to the only run they would need.
A John Kruk ground out scored that run. The Phillies added another on 2 doubles in the bottom of the second. The Phillies put 2 more runners on and couldn't get them home. Could the Jays get anything back?
It didn't look too good. A Borders' single was quickly erased on a double play to start the third.
In the very next inning, Roberto Alomar singled with one out. As Carter struck out, Roberto was out trying for a steal of second.
3 walks by Guzman in the 4th loaded the bases. Again, some real nice clutch pitching meant the Jays could still wrap this thing up.
Except Curt Schillin' was a thrillin' the Phillies fans tonight!
The Jays hit the ball well in the top of the 5th, but pretty much right at Philadelphia outfielders. Paul Molitor, playing third base for the second straight game, reached on an error. But Paul was stranded.
Guzman, suddenly full of confidence, had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame. That's what I liked about Juan: give him a few innings to struggle, and as long as Toronto are within four runs, the Jays come back and win!
Guzman, having to bat, fanned in the top of the 6th. But then, Schilling lost it! Well, only momentarily.
Ricky Henderson walked, as did White. Robbie up! But Robbie hit into a double play!
Another 1-2-3 inning by Guzman and you had to think the Phillies had blown their chance to win in the 3rd and 4th.
Molitor singled in the 7th, but the Jays got nothing else.
Schilling was showing his versatility on this night, which has to impress anyone. Even this Jays' fan here.
In the third, he laid down a bunt to make it second and third with two outs. But Guzman walked Dykstra intentionally and K'd Duncan. In this half of the Philly inning, Schilling led things off with a single. Guzman K'd Dykstra and got Duncan to hit into a double play. Hey, what goes around...
The Jays actually looked like they were going to win this thing in the top of the eighth. Borders led off with a single. Rob Butler, the Canadian, pinch hit.
The Butler did it! He singled to right. 1st and 3rd and no outs!
Henderson hit a grounded that deflected off Schilling's glove. Willie Canate (pinch running for Borders) tried for home. Caught in a rundown, Willie was out. 1st and 2nd and 1 out.
Schilling then K'd White and got Alomar to ground out. It can be a cruel game sometimes.
Danny Cox, in to pitch for Guzman, walked the first two batters in the bottom of the 8th. Oh man. The Jays looked like they were going to win it in the top of the inning, and now...
Philly with a chance to blow this thing wide open. Cox threw Darren Daulton a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Daulton swung at it and missed for strike 3.
Cox threw Jim Eisenreich a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Eisenreich swung at it and missed for strike 3.
Cox threw Milt Thompson a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Thompson...swung at it...and missed for strike 3.
Wow! Now that's how you do it, eh?
But Schilling got Joe Carter to pop out to open the 9th. John Olerud grounded out. Paul Molitor ended the game by flying out to Dykstra in center.
The Jays had been shutout for just the second time all year. To date, it's the only time they have ever been shutout in the World Series. It was also the last World Series game Toronto has lost as of this writing (2013).
The Jays, if they had a weakness, it was against left-handers that season. There record was below .500 (22-25). So the The Baltimore Orioles must have suspected the Jays would struggle against lefties. They got Fernando in the off-season.
Having lost a tough 3-2 decision vs. the Jays on May 7th of that season, Fernando had it even more the next time he faced Toronto.
His record was only 2-7, but he was a lefty. So it was troubled times ahead for the Jays. June 30th, 1993 was a tough night for the Jays and their fans. But almost 3 years earlier, both starting pitchers on this night were involved in something amazing. I'll get to that later.
In the May 7th start, the Jays could only get 6 hits of Valenzuela in 8 innings. They would get only 6 more in 9 innings on this day. With that screwball of his really breaking, the Jays had trouble.
The O's got a run in the bottom of the first off Toronto starter, Dave Stewart. It was actually one of Stew's old teammates, Harold Baines, who drove in the first run.
Stew settled down for a time after that. But the Jays were screwed with that 1 run against.
Amazingly enough, the Jays got half of their hits in the top of the 2nd, as three straight singles loaded the bases. But Darnell Coles popped out and Pat Borders hit into a double play. The Jays had just squandered their best chance to win the game.
I remember being frustrated on this night. Even as a 13-year old, I knew how good Valenzuela was. I had read about the 1981 World Series.
But I was amazed. Having not played in the majors in 1992 (Fernando was in Mexico) and having a record of 44-57 since 1986, I thought he was past it.
Well, not tonight. But this was a special night. Stewart and Valenzuela were joined at the hip, to tell you the truth.
Teammates they were, on the 1981 Dodgers. And then on opposite sides in the 1988 World Series. Fernando was left off the postseason roster that year as his arm hadn't been up to the task.
Then there was June 29th, 1990. Stewart, up against the Jays, tossed a shutout. It was a no-hitter. Later that same day, it was Valenzuela who went out and got one of his own.
Stewart was keeping up with his old pal tonight. But Harold Baines scored two more with a double in the bottom of the 5th. Stewart was out of there after this inning. Woody Williams came in and the Orioles scored 3 more in the bottom of the 7th.
The Jays didn't do much more the rest of the way. Valenzuela didn't walk a batter, and fanned only 2. But it just seemed like the Jays timing was off. That screwball does wonders, eh?
So in any event, the Jays later made it to the World Series. And up 3-1 against the Phillies, I honestly thought they were going to wrap it up in game 5. Right there in Philly.
If they had done that, no Carter walk-off.
In game 4, the Jays had scored 15 runs. But the next game, it was nothing but 0's.
Schilling just seemed to have it on this day. And so did his defence, turning 3 double plays. The Phillies had no intentions of losing the Series at home. And Toronto starter Juan Guzman wasn't exactly that bad on this night for the Jays.
A walk to Lenny Dykstra to lead off the game meant trouble for the Jays. A steal, with the throw going into centerfield, and the Phillies were that close to the only run they would need.
A John Kruk ground out scored that run. The Phillies added another on 2 doubles in the bottom of the second. The Phillies put 2 more runners on and couldn't get them home. Could the Jays get anything back?
It didn't look too good. A Borders' single was quickly erased on a double play to start the third.
In the very next inning, Roberto Alomar singled with one out. As Carter struck out, Roberto was out trying for a steal of second.
3 walks by Guzman in the 4th loaded the bases. Again, some real nice clutch pitching meant the Jays could still wrap this thing up.
Except Curt Schillin' was a thrillin' the Phillies fans tonight!
The Jays hit the ball well in the top of the 5th, but pretty much right at Philadelphia outfielders. Paul Molitor, playing third base for the second straight game, reached on an error. But Paul was stranded.
Guzman, suddenly full of confidence, had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the frame. That's what I liked about Juan: give him a few innings to struggle, and as long as Toronto are within four runs, the Jays come back and win!
Guzman, having to bat, fanned in the top of the 6th. But then, Schilling lost it! Well, only momentarily.
Ricky Henderson walked, as did White. Robbie up! But Robbie hit into a double play!
Another 1-2-3 inning by Guzman and you had to think the Phillies had blown their chance to win in the 3rd and 4th.
Molitor singled in the 7th, but the Jays got nothing else.
Schilling was showing his versatility on this night, which has to impress anyone. Even this Jays' fan here.
In the third, he laid down a bunt to make it second and third with two outs. But Guzman walked Dykstra intentionally and K'd Duncan. In this half of the Philly inning, Schilling led things off with a single. Guzman K'd Dykstra and got Duncan to hit into a double play. Hey, what goes around...
The Jays actually looked like they were going to win this thing in the top of the eighth. Borders led off with a single. Rob Butler, the Canadian, pinch hit.
The Butler did it! He singled to right. 1st and 3rd and no outs!
Henderson hit a grounded that deflected off Schilling's glove. Willie Canate (pinch running for Borders) tried for home. Caught in a rundown, Willie was out. 1st and 2nd and 1 out.
Schilling then K'd White and got Alomar to ground out. It can be a cruel game sometimes.
Danny Cox, in to pitch for Guzman, walked the first two batters in the bottom of the 8th. Oh man. The Jays looked like they were going to win it in the top of the inning, and now...
Philly with a chance to blow this thing wide open. Cox threw Darren Daulton a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Daulton swung at it and missed for strike 3.
Cox threw Jim Eisenreich a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Eisenreich swung at it and missed for strike 3.
Cox threw Milt Thompson a pitch that seemed to touch the plate it was so low. Thompson...swung at it...and missed for strike 3.
Wow! Now that's how you do it, eh?
But Schilling got Joe Carter to pop out to open the 9th. John Olerud grounded out. Paul Molitor ended the game by flying out to Dykstra in center.
The Jays had been shutout for just the second time all year. To date, it's the only time they have ever been shutout in the World Series. It was also the last World Series game Toronto has lost as of this writing (2013).
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